Hagerty alum Christian Hofer 2G/2A for ERAU. Stoneman Douglas alum Thomas Frank 4G, Lakeland alum Kaleb Cook 2G/1A, SJP alum Nick Shannon 3CTOs for FSC

via the school press releases/websites

BOX SCORE

Eagles Stun No. 14 Mocs in Overtime Thriller, 15-14

by Michael Black

LAKELAND, Fla. – For the second time this season, the Embry-Riddle men’s lacrosse team upset a top-20 team, this time as the Eagles (6-3, 2-0 SSC) broke the No. 14 Florida Southern Mocassins (7-4, 1-2 SSC) in an overtime thriller, 15-14.
 
The win not only marks the second top-20 win this season, but the best overall win in program history to this point, and the Eagles’ first-ever win over Florida Southern. Head coach John Jez has the Eagles at 6-3, two wins off the program record for wins in a season, and 2-0 in conference play, officially the best in-conference season an Eagle team has had.
 
Pete Abbes, last week named to the USILA Team of the Week, registered the game winner in the overtime frame. Abbes was one of three Eagles with a hat trick, joining Isaiah Hines (5g, 3a) and Coleman Jacobs (4g, 2a) as the leading goal scorers. Christian Hofer netted two goals and a pair of assists, while Marcus Needham rounded out the scoring with a goal of his own.
 
In net, Reid Kerr stood strong against the top-15 conference foes for just about 40 minutes, tallying six saves to 10 goals against. Carter Groezinger came on for 22:33 in the second half to earn the decision, saving five shots to just four goals allowed.
 
Jacobs dented the scoreboard first for both teams, clocking an unassisted goal at 13:15 to open things up early. FSC added an evener just under a minute later, but Needham dialed in a shot from Hines to put the Eagles up 2-1.
 
But FSC reeled off three goals in a row to end the first period up, 4-2. From there, though the Eagles took charge down the stretch in the opening half. ERAU won the second period outright, 6-1 en route to an 8-5 halftime lead. After Hofer got the Eagles back on the board at 12:31, the Mocs added one more at 11:11 extend their lead to 5-3. But two goals apiece from Abbes and Hines, the latter of whom connected on a man-up situation, along with a goal from Jacobs with just 39 ticks left in the half, gave the Eagles their 8-5 lead at the break.
 
The Mocs rebounded, however, and took the third period in a flash, 7-1, including four goals in a two-minute span during that time. After their final goal of the frame at 1:07 left in the third, the Mocs were up seemingly handily, 12-9.
 
But Hines, after representing the only third-period goal for ERAU, struck again to open the fourth period at 12:55 to climb back in. The two sides traded the next few goals over a five minute stretch, including one from Hofer and one more from Hines. But then Jacobs and the Eagles took charge at the end, never giving up. 
 
Jacobs tallied two unassisted goals (4:51 and 2:57) which tied things up at 14-14. Both teams had chances down the stretch in the fourth, but no one connected, sending it to an overtime frame. With just under two minutes left in the sudden death period, Abbes connected on the game winner, his 24 goal this season, to give the Eagles the victory in style.

*****

#14 Mocs Drop Overtime Contest at Home

LAKELAND, Fla. – The 14^th-ranked Florida Southern College men’s lacrosse team had to go to overtime for the third time this season and second time at home, as the Embry-Riddle Eagles erased a three-goal deficit in the fourth to force OT. The Eagles and Mocs each had chances in the extra period but with just 1:38 remaining the Eagles broke through for the game-winner.
 
The loss drops FSC’s record to 7-4 on the season including 1-2 in Sunshine State Conference play. The Eagles improved to 6-3 overall and a perfect 2-0 in league action.
 
Junior Brydon Robichaud and graduate student Thomas Frank led the offensive effort for the Mocs as Robichaud finished with a team-best five points including two goals and a team-high three assists. Frank, who entered the contest with one goal on the season, found the back of the cage four times to lead all FSC scorers. Seniors Kaleb Cook and Brendan Glasser each tallied two goals in the loss while Cook chipped in an assist as well to finish with three points. Four others scored one goal each while an additional three chipped in assists.
 
The Mocs caused 12 turnovers as a team led by graduate student Nick Shannon who posted three caused turnovers and scooped up six ground balls. Shannon is now just nine caused turnovers away from tying the FSC career record held by Austen Lison (2016-19), who had 123 caused turnovers during his four year career. Senior Zac Fitzgerald also chipped in a pair of caused turnovers as well.
 
Sophomore Jacob Czyz once again excelled at the face off spot as he went 18-of-21 (.857) while scooping up a game-best 14 ground balls. In goal, senior Michael Simone played all 62:22 while making eight saves, only his second single digit save performance this season.
 
The Eagles were led by Isaiah Hines who had a game-high eight points including five goals and three assists. Coleman Jacobs added four goals and two assists while Pete Abbes provided the overtime winner while scoring three goals and handing out one assist. ERAU keeper Carter Groezinger came in late in the third quarter and finished with five saves and four goals allowed while earning the win.
 
The game featured large swings of momentum as the Mocs controlled the tail end of the opening 15 minutes scoring four goals while holding the Eagles to just two in the period. Embry-Riddle scored two of the first three goals and led 2-1 just over six minutes into the contest. A trio of goals by the Mocs in the final six minutes of the quarter gave FSC a 4-2 lead heading into the break. Robichaud, Cook and sophomore Nolan Tighe each contributed goals during the stretch.
 
The second quarter was all Eagles as Embry-Riddle out-scored the Mocs 6-1 in the period. ERAU opened the scoring just under three minutes into the stanza and the Mocs answered just over a minute later as Glasser scored the Mocs’ lone goal of the second quarter. The Eagles went on to score five-straight including the final goal of the run with 39 seconds left in the half.
 
Trailing 8-5 heading into the second half, the Mocs had their best quarter of the afternoon in the third as FSC dominated the action out-scoring the visitors 7-1. Just under two minutes into the second half, Robichaud scored his second goal of the contest which was answered by ERAU less than a minute later. Trailing 9-6, the Mocs scored six goals over the final 10-plus minutes of action in the quarter to take a 12-9 lead into the final break. Frank scored all four of his goals during the 6-0 run as he was joined by sophomore Anthony Guglielmo and Glasser who each added one goal to the run.
 
The fourth saw the Mocs and Eagles trade the opening four goals of the period. Hines scored first for the visitors with 12:55 left but freshman Grant Ansted had the response just 54 seconds later to regain the three-goal advantage for the Mocs. The Eagles scored once again at the 9:56 mark but once again the Mocs had the answer as Cook found the back of the cage for the final time at the 6:08 mark to take a 14-11 lead. The Eagles went on to score three goals over the span of 2:32 as Hines opened the run followed by back-to-back goals from Jacobs.
 
The game then headed to overtime where FSC won the opening face off but were immediately turned over giving ERAU the first really opportunity at ending the game. The Eagles first shot sailed wide while the second attempt was saved by Simone giving FSC an offensive opportunity. After a successful clear, FSC called timeout to setup a game-winning play. After everyone on the offensive side of the ball had one touch of the ball, the Mocs began to attack but the Eagles defense stood strong and forced another FSC turnover. The Eagles raced the ball to the other end of the field where they setup their final play of the contest as Christian Hofer found Abbes for the game-winner with 1:38 left in the OT period.
 
The Mocs will not have much time to dwell on the loss, as FSC travel to Saint Leo Wednesday, April 3 for a 7 p.m. contest.