Flagler Men Fall to Palm Beach Atlantic in OT – Both Recaps
via Flagler and PBA releases
Sailfish Win Season Opener In Overtime
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla- The Palm Beach Atlantic men’s lacrosse team opened up the 2022 season with a dramatic 9-8 overtime win over Flagler at the Rinker Athletic Campus on Sunday. For the Sailfish (1-0) this marks their first win under interim head coach Jesse Vanatta. It was the heroics of freshman Caleb Southard, who scored PBA’s final two goals including the game-winner. Southard finished the game with two goals and one assists.
The Sailfish started the game hot offensively. With 13:15 left in the first quarter PBA midfielder Hunter Hopman found Austin Evans in front of the crease for the first goal of the year. PBA increased their lead to 2-0 when defender Hunter Sheffield picked up a ground ball and scored on a breakaway. Zack Figura tacked on another goal with 8:54 left in the first quarter for a 3-0 PBA lead.
The Flagler Saints crawled back from the 3-0 deficit scoring the games next four goals. Down 4-3, PBA midfielder Henry Sloyan tied the game with one minute and ten seconds left in the second quarter. Hopman distributed a skip pass to Sloyan who ripped a rocket into the back of the net. Sloyan finished the game with two goals and one assist. The score was tied 4-4 at halftime.
Hopman started the scoring frenzy in the second half when he scored his first goal of the year with 13:49 in the third quarter. Hopman finished the game with two goals and two assists. The ‘Fish went on a 3-0 run and held Flagler scoreless in the third quarter. PBA goalkeeper Ben Lightsey started in net and recorded 13 saves. The ‘Fish caused 23 turnovers and went 8-20 on face-offs.
With a 7-4 PBA lead the Saints generated offense. The Saints capitalized on fourth quarter penalties from the ‘Fish and scored two man-up goals. The Saints tied the game at 7-7 with 4:32 seconds. With just under three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Southard intercepted a pass in front of the goalie and finished it to give PBA the 8-7 lead. FC’s Thomas Pritchard tied the game with 2:26 seconds left. After exchanging possession and shots, the end of regulation forced overtime.
Both teams had possessions and clean looks to score in overtime. With 1:47 left in the overtime period, Sloyan passed it to Southard in the middle of the defense. Southard turned and buried a low shot to give PBA the 9-8 win.
Up next for PBA (1-0), they will face off against SSC opponent Rollins on Saturday Feb. 19 at the Rinker Athletic Campus.
*****
Saints Fall Short in Overtime to Sailfish
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Thomas Pritchard netted three goals as Flagler College fell to Palm Beach Atlantic University 9-8 in overtime, in a men’s lacrosse game Sunday afternoon at the PBA Soccer/Lacrosse Field.
The Saints fall to 0-2 on the season while this served as the first game of the season for the Sailfish.
Caleb Southard sent the Sailfish home with the victory off a pass from teammate Henry Sloyan with 2:02 left in overtime.
Pritchard’s third goal, with 2:26 remaining in regulation, sent the game to overtime with the score tied at 8-all.
The Sailfish jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first half of the first period, including converting on a man-up opportunity.
Ty Tom got Flagler’s offensive attack going when he beat the Sailfish goalie with 6:53 left to make the score 3-1.
Three more Flagler goals, with Tom adding one more, followed as Tyler Douglass and Geriant Shaw each netted one to give the Saints a 4-3 lead heading into halftime.
Coming out the break, Palm Beach Atlantic rattled off four straight goals to open up a 7-4 lead heading into the final period. That three-goal lead would evaporate right as the final period began.
Flagler converted on back-to-back man up opportunities with Drew Flagg scoring his first goal of the season and Pritchard scoring the first of back to back goals to tie the game at 7-all with 4:32 left.
Jake Griffin had another solid game in the faceoff circle, taking 17 faceoff and winning 10 of those.
The Saints stay on the road, traveling to Melbourne, Florida for another Sunshine State Conference game with the Florida Tech Panthers on Saturday, Feb 19 at 11 a.m.
Be the first to know what’s going on with the Saints — Follow @FlaglerSports on Twitter, follow FlaglerSports on Instagram, become a fan of Flagler College Athletics on Facebook and subscribe to the Flagler College Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with Flagler Athletics.
