Published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette on May 4, 2015
FAIRFIELD, Conn. — After losing its first five games, backing into the postseason, then knocking off top-seeded Fairfield, the UMass men’s lacrosse team fell on a late tiebreaking, highlight-reel worthy goal as Towson won the Colonial Athletic Association championship, 9-8, at Fairfield University on Saturday.
With 1 minute, 50 seconds left in regulation, a scrum broke out on the crease in front of UMass goalie Zach Oliveri. As three Minutemen tried to gain control of the ball, two Tigers ran in and Justin Mabus ended the battle. With his back to Oliveri, he won the ground ball and in the same motion, flung it over his shoulder and into the net to break an 8-8 tie.
“I’m speechless honestly. Great play,” Oliveri said. “By the time I told myself be ready for anything, the ball was going through my legs.”
The play happened so fast UMass coach Greg Cannella didn’t see it.
“I was actually looking at the video because it was hard to see the ball on the ground,” he said. “So I looked up at the video board and all of a sudden I see it in the back of the net. They are a very patient team so you have to play good defense, when the ball goes on the ground you hope to get it up and get it out, but that didn’t happen.”
UMass’ season ends at 5-10, while Towson (11-5) advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Oliveri finished with 16 saves on the afternoon, but UMass failed to capitalize on its own late chances.
“It’s disappointing when you look back at (the season), but not discouraging when you look at the end result being in the championship against Towson,” Cannella said.
In front of Oliveri, the defense effectively cleared the ball from start to finish, while the offense used halftime as a new beginning to get back into the game.
“It’s an unfortunate way for that game to end,” Oliveri said. “We didn’t give up. The entire game we were scrapping it up, trying to make plays and fought to the end, and that’s what you want out of the team.”
The Minutemen quickly erased a three-goal halftime deficit in the third quarter.
Gianni Bianchin found Grant Whiteway, who put the ball into the right side of the net to make it 5-3 with 12:01 left in the third. Two minutes later, Brendan Hegarty looked for room and went round the left side of the goal and scored low to make it a one-goal game.
“Coming out of halftime, we talked about getting a fast start, getting back in the game,” Hegarty said. “Guys really stepped it up, fought hard for ground balls and we were able to get back in it, tie it up.”
Andrew Sokol tied the game, 5-5, with a left-handed shot down low while moving across the crease for the Minutemen’s second unassisted goal of the quarter with 6:54 to go.
“Towson was on us anytime we went to the invert game, so we told our guys, ‘Listen. Take your time. Be patient and wait for a good shot.’ We waited for good shots and got them,” Cannella said. “As much as you want to see in assists, we wish every goal was assisted, at some point you need someone to take the ball and make something happen. In those situations, those guys did.”
Bianchin netted his second of the game as part of quick three-pass play. Sokol took a pass from behind the net and quickly dished it up the left side to Bianchin, who fired from deep in the defensive area for a 6-5 lead with 4:31 left in the quarter.
“I was making plays so that (a comeback) would happen and I thought the offense did a great job battling through it,” Oliveri said.
Towson got two back, scoring twice in the quarter’s final three minutes to take a 7-6 advantage into the final frame.
The Tigers extended their lead to 8-6 with Joe Seider’s third goal of the game with 9:10 left, but the Minutemen retaliated.
From the right side of the goal, Dan Muller scored his second of the game, shooting high to low to make it 8-7 with 8:24 left.
Then, with the Minutemen a man up, Nick Mariano found Bianchin, who beat Tyler White (seven saves) with a shot low from 15 yards to tie the game with 3:36 remaining.
Just over a minute of back-and-forth lacrosse played out before the game-winning goal was scored.
“Justin made a great play. It’s a freak thing. Hat’s off to him,” Oliveri said. “Towson played a great game and that entire game is the epitome of what the CAA is all about, a dogfight, one-goal game.”
Towson took a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter and led 5-2 at halftime.
“It was good to see our guys relax and play (in the second half),” Cannella said. “It’s unfortunate you lose a game on a play like we lost it on because it was such a good game.”