Box Score WEST POINT, N.Y. – Colgate pushed 14^th ranked Army-West Point (9-2, 5-1 Patriot) to the brink holding a fourth quarter lead, but the Cadets scored the final three goals of the game for a 13-11 victory at Michie Stadium.

The Raiders scored three consecutive goals to open the fourth quarter and take their first lead of the game. Defenseman Michael Lia scored off a clear with 11:44 to play pulling the Raiders within a single tally. Jack Turner equaled the score off an assist by Marshall Terres with 9:46 left and Turner then gave Colgate its first lead of the day at 3:56 off a feed from Brian Minicus. Army-West Point tied the game at 11 with 2:39 to play. The Cadets then scored their second goal in 42 seconds to take a 12-11 lead, and scored an insurance goal with 14 seconds left for the 13-11 victory.

Army-West Point opened the scoring just 50 seconds into the game off the opening faceoff. Brendan Jordan answered for the Raiders on a wrap-around to the left side with 9:05 left in the first quarter. Army took a 2-1 lead on a shot from up top with 4:22 to play in the period, and the Cadets increased the lead to 3-1 with just 10 seconds remaining in the quarter. Raider goalie Matt LaCombe had a big save with three seconds left to keep the deficit at two goals.

Colgate opened back and forth second quarter scoring as Michael Minicus cut the lead to 3-2 on a great second effort goal, wrapping around the right side of the cage and after falling to his knees firing a shot to the left side of the net with 9:07 left. Army jacked the lead back to two goals 20 seconds later after winning the faceoff. Brian Minicus answered the Cadet goal after just 25 seconds to make the score 4-3. An Army-West Point score with 7:16 left pushed the lead back to two goals. Again Colgate answered, this time with a Turner goal from point blank range off an assist from Jordan at the 6:33 mark, but Army once more found net with 4:37 left. Jordan assisted Brian Minicuis for a man-up score at 3:12 while the Cadets were serving an unnecessary roughness penalty. Army pushed the lead back to two on a goal with 1:10 remaining. The lead shrunk to 7-6 on a Marshall Terres bullet from the left side just inside the right post of the cage with just 13 ticks left in the half. Colin Ruppenstein assisted.

The Cadets drew first blood 2:53 into the third quarter, and yet again Colgate drew within a goal as Michael Minicus scored unassisted from 15 yards out on the right side at 9:18. Brother Brian tied the game at 8-8 on a right-side wrap-around for his seventh hat trick in 10 games this season. Army-West Point regained the lead after only 1:15 had elapsed following Minicus' goal. The Cadets scored consecutive goals for the first time since the first quarter to bump the advantage to 10-8. Turner tickled twine as time expired but the officials ruled the shot came after the buzzer had sounded setting up the decisive fourth quarter.

The Colgate attack was potent all afternoon with Brian Minicus and Turner netting three goals each and Michael Minicus scoring twice. The hat trick for Turner was the first of his career. LaCombe was once again strong in net making 13 saves with Army-West Point's final goal an empty net opportunity. Connor Brook had a staunch defensive afternoon causing two turnovers and picking up three ground balls. Will Rosenblatt also caused two turnovers and snared a pair of ground balls.

From the Source:
Head Coach Matt Karweck
From The Coach:

"First, let me just say how incredible it was to see and hear the rowdiness coming from the stands as our alumni came in strong to support us. We have such a dedicated and passionate alumni base, and our guys were feeding off their energy all game long. 

"A play here, and a play there. That's what it comes down to at this level. When you play a competitive schedule, you learn very quickly that each moment in the game means something, and that each play is significant if you want to walk away with a win at the end. Unfortunately, we know this lesson all too well. I'll tell you though, I'm about over these close game losses. My guys deserve to feel the thrill of victory, but it didn't pan out that way again for us today. That's four games this season that went right down the wire. 

"Our backs are against the wall now. My guys know exactly where we stand in the Patriot League, and what we need to do to get in the tournament. We need to win. The good news is, my guys are fighters and they know how to work. They practice like winners, they prepare like winners, and we are playing our best lacrosse at the end of the year.  Our job this week is to keep growing and getting better, prepare accordingly, and put together a complete game on Saturday against a Lehigh team that we have some unfinished business with." 

UP NEXT:
The string of nationally ranked opponents continues as Colgate (2-8, 1-4 Patriot) will host #19 Lehigh University (6-3, 4-0 Patriot) on Saturday, April 16 for a 4:00PM faceoff at Andy Kerr Stadium.