For Immediate Release: March 11, 2006
Contact: Thomas Moore II (sports@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-2956

BU men's lacrosse uses stellar comeback to defeat Villanova 7-6 in OT

Box score

Villanova, Pa.--Junior midfielder Jeff Santucci (Cicero, N.Y.) scored the game-winning goal with 42 seconds into the first sudden-death overtime period, leading Binghamton (2-1) to a stellar 7-6 comeback victory at Villanova (2-3) in a non-conference lacrosse game on Saturday afternoon. In the process, the Bearcats defeated Villanova for the first time in four tries. This is the fourth overtime game for Binghamton in the programs five-year history, all resulted in a win.

"We showed a lot of heart today," head coach Ed Stephenson said. "With us down by five goals in the fourth quarter the team knew it was time to step it up, and they did. I have never seen a comeback in a span of time like this. It was unbelievable for us to win like this."

Junior Rob Willams (Fulton, N.Y.) scored the first goal of the game 2:23 in the game on an assist by junior attack Matt McNamara (Oswego, N.Y.). Villanova followed by scoring the next six goals, the last of them coming in the third quarter.

With 10:21 left in the fourth quarter Binghamton's offense awoke from its slumber and found the back of the net. Santucci scored his first goal of the game on an assist from McNamara with 10:21 left in the fourth quarter. Freshman attack Chris Mulheron (Canandaigua, N.Y.) scored a man-up goal on an assist from sophomore midfielder Stephen Smith (Canandaigua, N.Y.) with 8:07 remaining in the quarter. McNamara followed with a man-up goal assisted by Williams with 2:24 left to play. Freshman attack Jake Boyce (Pittsford, N.Y.) netted his third goal in as many games with 1:17 left, fed by Mulheron to tighten the score to 6-5 'Nova lead. WIlliams passed the ball to Smith, who scored with 12 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 6-6.

For the second straight game the Bearcats went into overtime looking for a win. This time the hero was Santucci who beat his defender 42 seconds into the first overtime for the unassisted goal.

Binghamton out shot Villanova 29-27 while senior goalie Kevin McKeown (Brewster, N.Y.) made nine saves in the win. Binghamton was 2-8 in extra-man opportunities while 'Nova was 0-2. The Bearcats won seven of the 16 faceoffs. The Wildcats won the ground ball battle with 38, while the Bearcats won 29.

Binghamton hosts No. 19 Hobart on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at East Middle School.