MCLA: Comeback Kids – Seminoles Erase Second Half Deficits in Back-to-Back Wins
Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in College, Featured Posts, Florida Lacrosse News, Florida State Men.
from FLN Special Correspondent Anthony Cicio – photos submitted with article
Atlanta, GA — Florida State’s lacrosse team traveled to Atlanta this past weekend to take on a pair of ranked opponents. The #22 Seminoles faced #9 Georgia Tech on Friday evening and #23 Minnesota on Saturday afternoon.
FSU took down Georgia Tech, 10-7, for the first time in six years. They followed through on Saturday, defeating Minnesota, 6-5, in a game that came down to the final seconds. After this weekend, Florida State improved to 5-1 on the year, and is riding a three-game win streak against ranked opponents.
Florida State took on Georgia Tech on a frigid Friday evening, with temperatures around 45 degrees at face-off. The Seminoles got off to a cold start, falling behind 3-1 after the first quarter. Freshman attackman Reid Smith tallied the lone goal.
The Yellow Jackets jumped out quick in the 2nd, scoring the first three goals of the quarter, extending their lead to 6-1. After a timeout with 3:32 remaining in the quarter, senior Davis Goodman notched two quick scores, giving the Noles some momentum. FSU entered the halftime break down 6-3.
The game would be all Seminoles following the third quarter’s opening draw. Senior Josh Marmetschke opened the second half scoring with a wing dodge, cut back to his left, and found pay dirt in the top corner of the net. After that, during an extra man opportunity, Sophomore Quinn Lowdermilk would cut the Jacket’s lead to one with a no-look jump-shot on the crease.
With four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Reid Smith inverted a midfielder behind the net and set up a dodge. Smith would put the Tech midfielder on skates and finish low and away on a wraparound score. Georgia Tech quickly answered back with a goal of their own on a left handed alley dodge, knotting the game at sevens heading into the final period of play.
The Seminole defense bent but did not break, posting a shutout in the fourth quarter. Senior goalkeeper Anthony Cicio contributed 12 saves on the day, five of which came in the 4th frame. Florida State’s offense would hold up their end of the deal on the other side of the field, scoring three goals in the last eight minutes. Goals by Goodman, Smith, and Davis Crayner sealed the deal for the Noles.
The scoreboard read 10-7 as the clock hit zeros. The Seminoles ended the game on a 9-1 scoring run after falling behind 6-1 late in the second quarter. The win was Florida State’s first victory against Georgia Tech in six years. It was also FSU’s first win against a top-ten opponent in over a year.
The following afternoon, the Seminoles were back at it against #23 Minnesota. The Golden Gophers came into the matchup with a record of 2-3.
The first quarter would tilt back and forth. Davis Goodman struck first for the Noles on a step down bounce shot from ten yards out. The Gophers answered quickly with two goals of their own, making it 2-1. After, Senior Dawson Allen found the bottom right corner on a side-winding bounce shot. However, Minnesota took advantage of a man up opportunity in the final minute of the 1st, giving them a 3-2 lead after one quarter of play.
The second quarter featured stout defensive play as Minnesota blanked the Seminole offense. The Gophers scored an even strength goal just before the half, putting them up 4-2 at the break.
Reid Smith ended the Seminoles 20-minute scoring drought with a goal midway though the 3rd quarter. The scoreboard showed 4-3, in favor of the Golden Gophers, after three quarters of play.
Minnesota struck first in the fourth quarter, finding the back of the net on an outside shot through traffic, extending their lead to two. The Seminoles trailed 5-3 with six and a half minutes left on the clock before junior attackman Luke Kendall took matters into his own hands. Kendall came off the bench and scored back-to-back goals to tie the game at five. After Kendall’s second goal, the Seminoles won the ensuing face-off and entered the attacking zone. Coach Patrick Teubner called a timeout and drew up the final offensive set with just 1:30 remaining in the game.
The Seminoles swung the ball around, managing to shift the Gopher defense just enough. Goodman initiated a dodge behind the net and dished a skip pass to midfielder Kyle Wooten. The sophomore buried a firecracker in the top corner of the net with just 48 ticks left on the game clock. Wooten’s goal gave the Seminoles the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the first quarter.
The Gophers would win the following draw and get the ball below into their offensive restraining box before calling a timeout with 29 seconds left in the game. Minnesota swung the ball around twice before finding a look just above the crease. Minnesota midfielder Josh Werkmeister got a shot off with eight seconds left but FSU’s goalie Anthony Cicio was able to kick the ball away. The Seminoles scooped up the ground ball and launched it to the other half of the field as time expired.
The Seminoles picked up back-to-bank ranked wins on the weekend and improved to 5-1 on the season. They will travel to Austin this upcoming weekend for games against #4 BYU and Texas.
The Yellow Jackets jumped out quick in the 2nd, scoring the first three goals of the quarter, extending their lead to 6-1. After a timeout with 3:32 remaining in the quarter, senior Davis Goodman notched two quick scores, giving the Noles some momentum. FSU entered the halftime break down 6-3.
The game would be all Seminoles following the third quarter’s opening draw. Senior Josh Marmetschke opened the second half scoring with a wing dodge, cut back to his left, and found pay dirt in the top corner of the net. After that, during an extra man opportunity, Sophomore Quinn Lowdermilk would cut the Jacket’s lead to one with a no-look jump-shot on the crease.
With four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Reid Smith inverted a midfielder behind the net and set up a dodge. Smith would put the Tech midfielder on skates and finish low and away on a wraparound score. Georgia Tech quickly answered back with a goal of their own on a left handed alley dodge, knotting the game at sevens heading into the final period of play.
The Seminole defense bent but did not break, posting a shutout in the fourth quarter. Senior goalkeeper Anthony Cicio contributed 12 saves on the day, five of which came in the 4th frame. Florida State’s offense would hold up their end of the deal on the other side of the field, scoring three goals in the last eight minutes. Goals by Goodman, Smith, and Davis Crayner sealed the deal for the Noles.
The scoreboard read 10-7 as the clock hit zeros. The Seminoles ended the game on a 9-1 scoring run after falling behind 6-1 late in the second quarter. The win was Florida State’s first victory against Georgia Tech in six years. It was also FSU’s first win against a top-ten opponent in over a year.
The following afternoon, the Seminoles were back at it against #23 Minnesota. The Golden Gophers came into the matchup with a record of 2-3.
The first quarter would tilt back and forth. Davis Goodman struck first for the Noles on a step down bounce shot from ten yards out. The Gophers answered quickly with two goals of their own, making it 2-1. After, Senior Dawson Allen found the bottom right corner on a side-winding bounce shot. However, Minnesota took advantage of a man up opportunity in the final minute of the 1st, giving them a 3-2 lead after one quarter of play.
The second quarter featured stout defensive play as Minnesota blanked the Seminole offense. The Gophers scored an even strength goal just before the half, putting them up 4-2 at the break.
Reid Smith ended the Seminoles 20-minute scoring drought with a goal midway though the 3rd quarter. The scoreboard showed 4-3, in favor of the Golden Gophers, after three quarters of play.
Minnesota struck first in the fourth quarter, finding the back of the net on an outside shot through traffic, extending their lead to two. The Seminoles trailed 5-3 with six and a half minutes left on the clock before junior attackman Luke Kendall took matters into his own hands. Kendall came off the bench and scored back-to-back goals to tie the game at five. After Kendall’s second goal, the Seminoles won the ensuing face-off and entered the attacking zone. Coach Patrick Teubner called a timeout and drew up the final offensive set with just 1:30 remaining in the game.
The Seminoles swung the ball around, managing to shift the Gopher defense just enough. Goodman initiated a dodge behind the net and dished a skip pass to midfielder Kyle Wooten. The sophomore buried a firecracker in the top corner of the net with just 48 ticks left on the game clock. Wooten’s goal gave the Seminoles the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the first quarter.
The Gophers would win the following draw and get the ball below into their offensive restraining box before calling a timeout with 29 seconds left in the game. Minnesota swung the ball around twice before finding a look just above the crease. Minnesota midfielder Josh Werkmeister got a shot off with eight seconds left but FSU’s goalie Anthony Cicio was able to kick the ball away. The Seminoles scooped up the ground ball and launched it to the other half of the field as time expired.
The Seminoles picked up back-to-bank ranked wins on the weekend and improved to 5-1 on the season. They will travel to Austin this upcoming weekend for games against #4 BYU and Texas.
