FINAL STATS

Lexington, VA – Despite three goals apiece from senior attackman Mike Hurley (Billerica, MA/ Billerica) and junior midfielders Nick DePhillips (Glen Ridge, NJ/ Glen Ridge) and Colin O'Rourke (Worcester, MA/ St. John's Shrewsbury), the Wagner men's lacrosse team wound up on the short end of a gut-wrenching 12-11 overtime decision to VMI.
 
This thriller featured eight ties and 11 lead changes, including three ties in the fourth quarter alone. In a battle of teams seeking their first victory of the season, the Keydets moved their record to 1-6 on the season while Wagner is now 0-6.
 
VMI led 5-4 at halftime and then broke a 7-7 tie with two consecutive goals late in the third quarter to seize a 9-7 lead entering the final frame. Wagner then knocked home two goals early in the fourth to knot the game at 9-9. Junior attackman Brian Faughnan (New Canaan, CT/ New Canaan)found the back of the net just nine seconds into the quarter to make it 9-8 which was followed by a Hurley goal at 12:38 off an O'Rourke assist to make it 9-9.
 
That's the way things stood until the 6:56 mark when Hurley received a feed from Santor and buried the shot to put the Seahawks back on top 10-9. After Hofmeister tied the game at 10-10 with an unassisted goal with 5:59 to go, O'Rourke countered with an unassisted tally of his own with 4:23 left to put Wagner in the lead at 11-10. The Seahawks nearly held onto the lead the rest of the way but with five seconds to left in regulation, Drew Leonard scored off a Keith Long assist to forge an 11-11 tie.
 
Then, 2:52 into overtime, Russell East sank the game-winner of a Long assist.
 
Freshman midfielder Cory Santor (Glastonbury, CT/ Glastonbury) and Faughnan chipped in with one goal apiece. Of Wagner's 11 goals, five were assisted, with O'Rourke capping a five-point day with two helpers. Junior defenseman Dustin Doty (Sherman Oaks, CA/ Crespi Carmelite), Hurley and Santor had one apiece. Doty also led the Seahawks in ground balls with five.
 
The Seahawks played a particularly gritty game as the Keydets enjoyed won a commanding 22-of-26 faceoffs which put pressure on the Wagner defense throughout the contest. VMI held a 52-33 edge in shots and a 37-15 advantage in ground balls.
 
In the face of heavy pressure, sophomore goalie Nicholas Gibaldi (Rocky Point, NY/ Rocky Point) tied his career high with 19 saves. Mickey Hofmeister had a hat trick to pace VMI offensively.
 
Wagner is next in action on Friday, March 16 when the Seahawks make the trek to Macon, GA to meet the Bears of Mercer University in a 1:00 pm faceoff.