 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Rutgers grabs Hobart in 2OTs
March 24, 2007
GENEVA, N.Y.—Senior attackman Colin Checcio (Radnor/Wayne, Pa.) scored 23 seconds into the second overtime to lift Rutgers to a 12-11 ECAC Lacrosse League victory over Hobart at McCooey Field. The Scarlet Knights improve to 2-3, 1-1 in the ECAC, while the Statesmen slip to 3-4, 0-2.
Hobart won the faceoff to start the second OT, but a quick turnover sent the ball in the other direction. Checcio was able to free himself and put home the game-winner from point-blank range, his game-leading fifth of the day.
Junior attackman Daryl Veltman (Salisbury School/Georgetown, Ontario) led the Statesmen with three goals and an assist, while senior midfielder Chris David (Georgetown Prep/Silver Spring, Md.) added a hat trick of his own. Sophomore defensive midfielder Matt Smalley (Avon Old Farms/Cumberland, R.I.) also enjoyed a strong outing, scoring twice and collecting eight ground balls.
For Rutgers, first-year midfielder Justin Pennington (Hunterdon/Flemington, N.J.) had two goals and two assists, and won 5-of-6 faceoffs. Classmate Michael Hurwitz (Boys’ Latin/Baltimore, Md.) was 10-of-20 at the X, collected a game-high 10 ground balls, and scored a goal.
In the first half, Hobart broke a 4-4 tie with three unanswered goals. Veltman started the string with an unassisted tally at the 4:07 mark. Smalley posted his first goal of the season just over two minutes later when his pass, intended for a cutting attackman, instead got past its target and sophomore goalie Peter Pantages, (West Essex/Roseland, N.J.). David netted his third goal of the first half with 33 seconds remaining to lift the Statesmen to a 7-4 advantage.
Seventeen second later, Hurwitz ended Hobart’s run with a breakaway score, but Smalley beat the halftime buzzer to send his team into the break with an 8-5 lead.
Pantages recorded just two saves in the first half. He was replaced by first-year Bill Olin (Horseheads/Elmira, N.Y.) at the start of the third quarter. The substitution energized the Scarlet Knights, who outscored Hobart 4-2 in the third quarter. Olin allowed just three goals and finished with seven saves.
After the team’s traded goals to start the third frame, Rutgers went on a three-goal run of its own. Checcio sandwiched goals around an extra-man tally by senior attackman Chris Doctor (Skaneatles/Skaneatles, N.Y.) to tie the game at 9-9 with 3:23 left in the third.
Hobart netted another buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter, this time sophomore midfielder Will Harrington (Friends School/Baltimore, Md.) did the honors for his first career goal.
Veltman converted Hobart’s lone man-up situation to start the fourth quarter to put the home team in front 11-9, but Doctor and Pennington scored at 3:06 and 1:58, respectively, to force OT.
In the first extra period, Rutgers nearly got the win on a shot by sophomore attackman Mike Dugan (Summit/Summit, N.J.), but an acrobatic save by senior goalie Brandon Baer (Locust Valley/Bayville, N.Y.), his ninth stop of the day, smothered the chance. Hobart got off a pair of shots in OT as well, but neither was on frame.
Hobart is back in action at 3:30 p.m. on March 31, when the Statesmen host Fairfield, while Rutgers plays its next game on the same day at St. John’s.