MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – Up against a ranked opponent in their 2021 season opener, the Colorado Mesa men's lacrosse team used a last second goal to forced an overtime period, but fell in extra minutes to No. 8 Mount Olive Wednesday afternoon.
The Trojans struck first, causing the turnover then converting into a goal by Aidan Lalonde. A couple minutes later it was the Mavericks turn to get on the board, as
Hunter Holcomb picked up his first collegiate goal, assisted by
Sergio Pelayo who also grabbed his first collegiate assist.
Pelayo later connected with
Carson Schwark to even the score, and then took matters into his own hands scoring his first career goal to give the Mavs their first lead of the game. Lalonde was behind all three of the Trojans goals in the first quarter, with the teams tied at 3 after one.
Braden Plock opened the second quarter finding the back of the net, with
AJ Switzer getting the assist. Five minutes later,
Jed Brummett gave his team a two-point advantage, on a second chance possession. Within that same minute,
James Steinke made it a three-point lead thanks to a ground ball pick up by CMU.
Pelayo would score yet again, forcing the Trojans to call a timeout. The timeout would prove to be good for one score, yet again by Aidan Lalonde but would be the final goal of that period.
Jed Brummett pushed his teams lead up to 8-4, netting his second goal of the game within the first minute of the third quarter. Despite a few turnovers,
AJ Switzer gave his team a five-point advantage scoring near the 11-minute mark.
As the team's headed into the final quarter, CMU had built up a 9-5 lead. After both teams were scoreless for nearly half of the quarter, the Trojans would string together a series of goals to tie it back up.
Mount Olive would win the faceoff and turn it into a goal to hold a slight 10-9 edge, but thanks to a literal last second goal by
Cole Emmanuel the teams headed into overtime.
A CMU penalty gave an extra-man opportunity to Mount Olive. Mogi Watson saved the first shot attempt, but Braydon Hickey scooped up the ground ball and then found the back of the net for the golden goal and the final 11-10 decision in favor of the Trojans.
CMU took 44 shots, 23 coming on goal and each team picked up 13 saves. The Mavs were a flawless 19-19 in clears, and picked up three more ground balls than their opponent, and held a 18-5 edge in faceoffs.
Brummett and Pelayo led the scoring efforts with 2-goals each, and Pelayo also finished with two assists on the day.
Mogi Watson recorded 13-saves in his Maverick debut for a .542 save percentage.
Colorado Mesa will head to Rome, Georgia to faceoff with Shorter University on Friday, followed by a meeting with Alabama Huntsville on Saturday.
