ADRIAN, Mich. - Siena Heights had gotten the better of Adrian all year long, whether it was on the pitch or on the court. That all changed on Saturday afternoon at Docking Stadium, as a goal from
Brett Koczenasz just over a minute into the overtime period sent the Adrian men's lacrosse team past the Saints, 12-11 in another crosstown-rivalry classic.
Peyton Gasche and
Michael Jonas led the Bulldog (1-0) offense with five points each, including an assist on the game-winning goal from Jones.
It was a back-and-forth affair on Kapnick Field, with the visitors opening the scoring after only 21 seconds. But then, just over a minute later, the black and gold got on a roll, knotting the contest at 1-1 on a goal from
Travis Fox, before taking their first lead behind a snipe from Gasche.
The scoring frenzy continued for Adrian, as Fox quickly netted his second of game to push the 'Dogs ahead by two goals.
Siena Heights did not take long to formulate a response, countering with a 4-0 run to build a two-goal lead of their own, only to have it trimmed by another Gasche tally in the final minute of the first period.
In the second frame, a pair of goals from Jonas, as well as a third from Fox, helped the Bulldogs draw level with the Saints heading into the locker room.
Despite a low-scoring third quarter, Adrian utilized marks from
Owen Kelly and
Jake Coakley to retake the lead with 15 minutes left in regulation.
The fourth quarter had just about every fan at the edge of their seats, as the Saints battled back from two multi-goal deficits, including one in the final minute to force overtime.
The Bulldogs got the last laugh, nevertheless, not letting Siena Heights see any possession time in the extra period. Starting with another faceoff win by
Max Leventis, the black and gold set up shop in their attacking zone. From behind the net, Jonas connected with Koczenasz at the point, who then fired a whistler into the back of the net to send the hometown crowd into a flurry.
In goal,
Sam Spangler racked up 12 saves, including several clutch stops down the stretch.
With a season-opening win under their belts, the Bulldogs now turn their attention to the season's first road match on March 2 at Lake Forest College.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
