Coker University stuns Catawba in men’s lacrosse
The Coker University men’s lacrosse team stunned Catawba in a 13-12 overtime thriller April 7 as senior goalkeeper Chris Hagy became the first player in program history to record 500 career saves. Coker jumped out to a 5-0 lead through the first 11 minutes, starting things with an unassisted marker from James Brugger just over two minutes in. Brugger set up a Cal Gibson goal 51 seconds later, before Andrew Dappen scored unassisted less than a minute later for a 3-0 lead. Joe Venazio got in on the scoring with an unassisted marker with under five minutes to play in the quarter, while Matt Murphy scored unassisted just 1:06 later. Catawba netted the last three goals of the first quarter, as Coker took a 5-3 lead to the second. Venazio began the scoring in the second with an unassisted goal five minutes in, before the Indians responded with back-to-back goals to get back within one with just over six minutes to play in the quarter. Jason McNeany countered with an unassisted goal just 11 seconds later, before Gibson scored from Venazio with under three minutes to play in the half. Catawba would score the final goal of the half with a minute and a half to play in the second, as Coker would take an 8-6 lead to the half. Richie Timothee got in on the scoring to start the third with an unassisted goal four and a half minutes in, before Catawba would score three unanswered in the frame to tie the game at nine headed to the fourth. Henry Haskett started the scoring in the fourth just over a minute into the frame off an assist from Venazio, before Catawba would score just under four minutes in to tie the game up again. Coker would take a two-goal lead with seven minutes to play with goals from Ethan Irizarry (Andrew Dappen) and Dappen unassisted, before the Indians would rally to tie the game at 12 in the final two minutes to send the game to overtime. The teams traded chances throughout the overtime period, before Irizarry scored the winner with 11 seconds left in the extra session to send the Cobras into a frenzy. Irizarry, Venazio, Gibson and Dappen each scored twice, while Murphy, Timothee, Brugger and McNeany and Haskett each added one goal. Venazio also registered two assists on the night, while Brugger and Dappen each helped on one Coker goal in the game. Coker out-worked Catawba on ground balls 39-31, led by a game-high 11 from McNeany. 12 others were active in the ground ball effort in the game. Coker also caused five turnovers in the game, with two from Brugger and one each from Haskett, Bennett and Dappen. Hagy picked up his fourth win of the season between the pipes, stopping 17 shots in the game. On the way to the victory, Hagy, already the program’s all-time career saves leader, became the first player in program history to record 500 career saves.
