ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – One couldn't ask for a more thrilling way to begin the 2023 NCAA men's lacrosse season as Embry-Riddle fought off a late attack against rival Flagler to narrowly win 11-10 on Wednesday at the Flagler Lacrosse Field. It was only the second installment in the all-time series after the Eagles (1-0) were also victorious over the Saints (0-1) in 2022 by a final of 14-8.
Only 28 seconds were needed for Embry-Riddle to score its opening goal of the 2023 campaign.
Josh Bushong rushed in on the right side and bounced a shot off the post to give the Eagles the early lead.
The Blue and Gold would put up two more on the scoreboard before Flagler found an answer. Despite running away from the goal,
Marcus Needham spun around and fired away. Even though his momentum was taking him in the opposite direction, Needham managed to get an unstoppable amount of power on his shot that went unimpeded to the bottom left corner of the net.
The scoring came fast and furious over the next minute-and-a-half. Twenty-one seconds later,
Lars Hoeg gave Embry-Riddle a three-goal cushion. Flagler responded with a score of its own 17 seconds after that, but Needham pushed the advantage back to three when he received a well-placed pass from
Pete Abbes right in front of the crease. His up-close shot left no time for the goalie to block the attempt.
Abbes joined in on the scoring, rushing in on the left with 2:03 left in the first and putting a top-shelf shot through to put the Eagles up 5-2.
Part of the Eagles' early success was due to the faceoff as Embry-Riddle won the first three. However, it was a struggle inside the circle in the second period. Flagler claimed all four faceoffs in the quarter, which allowed the Saints to surge back and tie the contest at five goals each. Thankfully,
Coleman Jacobs ripped a shot from the left side past the goalie with 43 seconds left in the period to put the Eagles back on top 6-5, a lead they would take into the intermission.
All throughout the third, the two squads traded blows. Whenever Flagler tied the score, Embry-Riddle jumped back ahead shortly after.
Christian Hofer recorded the Eagles' first goal of the period with 9:54 to go, and Jacobs followed suit with a fantastic move to break free at 5:34 left. The junior juked left, then spun right to get separation from his defender. Jacobs proceeded to rifle home a shot that left the goalie motionless as it sailed into the net just below the top bar.
At the 11:58 mark, Needham sent a sharp pass to Hofer on the left side, and the attacker was able to use his quick release to add a second score for himself in the period and put Embry-Riddle back up 9-8.
Five minutes into the fourth, Hoeg managed to get free on an Eagle breakaway following a Saints' shot that deflected off the post. Hoeg converted on his shot, and Embry-Riddle possessed a two-score lead at 10-8.
Flagler trimmed it back to one with 8:22 left, but Abbes gave his team breathing room with only 3:28 on the clock. Abbes ran from behind the net to in front of it on the right side of the field. A quick turn and shot saw the Middletown, N.J., native place the ball in the top left corner for the Eagles to go ahead 11-9.
A save by
Reid Kerr with 1:44 remaining appeared to be the finishing touch on a season-opening win. However, an Eagle turnover with 41 seconds to go allowed Flagler to get within one goal nine seconds later. The Saints then won the ensuing faceoff and fired a last-second shot, but it went high.
Six different Eagles recorded a goal in the game. Needham led the squad in points with four thanks to a pair of goals and assists. Abbes, Hofer, Hoeg, and Jacobs also tallied multiple scores. In the circle,
Andrew Ewalt went 12-for-22 on faceoffs.
Freshman
Carter Groezinger received his first collegiate start in the cage and performed well by earning five saves. Newcomer
Reid Kerr took over after halftime and replicated Groezinger's stat line to earn the win.
The Eagles move from one Saint to another when they take on Limestone on Feb. 4 at 12 p.m. in Gaffney, S.C.
