Box Score ANNAPOLIS – The U.S. Naval Academy converted on five of eight extra man opportunities, including the tying and go-ahead goals as the Midshipmen held on to defeat Colgate 11-10 in a Patriot League contest.
Colgate led lead 9-6 with 11:26 to following a
Brian Minicus tally taking the ball behind the crease from the right side and reversing direction to beat the Navy defense. The score was Minicus' fifth of the afternoon. Navy responded 50 seconds later to crawl back to within 9-7. A Midshipmen tally at 8:12 pulled Navy within a goal. A Colgate cross check penalty gave Nave a one-minute man advantage and the Midshipmen wasted no time in tying the score and taking the lead as the penalty was non-releasable. Navy later had a two-man advantage for 30 seconds and although the first penalty was released the Midshipmen scored another extra man opportunity for a 11-9 lead. A goal from
Marshall Terres with 13 seconds left drew the Raiders to within one but despite
Thomas Colucci winning the faceoff and
Michael Minicus getting a shot on goal Navy made the save and ran out the clock.
Colgate went up early in the game as leading scorer
Brian Minicus added to his team-leading goal total twice in the first 3:13 of the game. The senior scored a pair of unassisted goals to give the Raiders a 2-0 advantage including the first goal of the game just 50 seconds into the contest. Nathan Fassanaro scored his first goal of the season three and a half minutes later for a 3-0 Raider lead. A Navy goal just over a minute later finished the first quarter scoring. In six games prior to playing Colgate, Navy had allowed a total of only 10 goals in the first period.
Navy cut the lead to 3-2 on an extra man opportunity just 3:03 into the second period. The Midshipmen scored the goal just nine seconds into the man advantage. Minicus wasted no time pushing the Raider lead back to 5-2. His third goal was an unassisted wrap around from the left side of the cage to the right with 6:35 remaining. Minicus then tallied his 15
th goal of 2022 on a rebound off the post following a long shot by Fassanaro. The Midshipmen retaliated with two goals in the last 5:40 for a 5-4 Colgate lead.
Colgate opened the third quarter even faster than it scored in the first period. Terres drilled his third goal of the season as he took a pass from from
Michael Minicus behind the cage and powered around to the left side of the crease just 31 seconds into the session. A Navy missile to the top right of the net during another extra man opportunity moved the Midshipmen to within 6-5. Navy tied the game less than a minute later following a Colgate turnover on an attempted clear.
Michael Minicus put the Raiders back on top with a shot to the top of the net from the left side. It was Michael's sixth goal of the season. Colgate increased the leased to 8-6 as Terres found
Michael Minicus in front of the crease. Despite taking a big hit, Minicus found the back of the net.
Colgate goal keeper
Matt LaCombe had a dozen saves in the contest. Colucci won 12 faceoffs and scooped six ground balls.
Brian Minicus had an assist to go along with his five goals. Terres and
Michael Minicus each had two goals and an assist.
Aidan Murnane had four ground balls and caused four Navy turnovers.
FROM THE SOURCE:
Head Coach Matt Karweck:
"It's hard to not see the results go your way when your team plays so hard, prepares the right way, and has the poise, confidence, and composure that you want.
Bottom line, too many penalties, too many empty possessions that ended in turnovers. We need to button up these areas.
I told my guys after the game, I love the brand of lacrosse we are putting out there. We're tough, physical, skilled, and focused. Our effort is off the charts, but our execution needs to catch up. We are a dangerous team right now, and we have all the right pieces to make a strong run in the league. We are looking forward to getting that going this week."
UP NEXT
Colgate (1-4, 0-2 Patriot League) will host Lafayette College Saturday, March 19, at noon in a Patriot League contest.
