Posted: Mar 25, 2009
SALEM, Va. --- Roanoke overcame a late deficit to remain unbeaten in a 17-16 overtime victory over Williams (MA) in non-conference action this afternoon. The Maroons improved to 10-0 on the season while the Ephs dropped to 1-4 overall.
The Maroons, who are off to their best start in school-history, defeated the fourth first-time opponent this season. They are now 70-20 all-time in series-openers, including 12 of the last 13.
The men achieved another win milestone, finishing regular season with its only undefeated non-conference mark (10-0) in school-history. The overtime win was the first since Lynchburg by the same score in 2007. They are 13-14 all-time in overtime games.
Roanoke, ranked third in the latest USILA Div. III poll, outshot Williams, 59-39 and 62-35 in groundballs. They held a slight edge in face-offs, 20-of-37 and were successful in 21-of-31 clear attempts. The Maroons were 3-for-9 in extra man opportunities, including 3-of-6 in the first half.
It seemed as if the Maroons were going to run away early, ending the first quarter with a convincing 8-3 lead. They outshot the Ephs, 21-7 and were dominating in the groundball battle, 17-5. Matt Quinton's fancy stick work resulted in four of his five first-half goals to give them the early advantage.
Williams closed the lead to within three just before the horn sounded at the end of the first half as Richard Rueter found an open Brian Morrissey with three-seconds left to make the score 11-8 at the half.
Roanoke kept the Ephs at bay in the third period, as each team scored goals back and forth and went into the final period with a 14-11 lead.
Pat March scored off an assist from Steve Furdock early in the fourth to make it, 15-11 with 11:32 remaining. Williams rallied back, scoring five unanswered goals to take its first lead of the contest, 16-15 with only 2:55 remaining in regulation.
Roanoke, who have been in this situation before against Dickinson, remained calm and kept fighting. Stephen Simmons hard fought groundball to win the face-off led a fast break as he found Justin Tuma in the box which found March behind the goal. He went around his defender and found the back of the net to tie the game with 2:42 remaining.
Goalie Jake Dorsey kept his head up after letting five-straight goals go through to come up with two big saves in the final seconds to force overtime.
Dorsey was big again in the final stanza, as he came up with a save and a groundball around the crease to cap an outstanding clutch performance in the closing minutes. After an offsides called by the officials, Chas Carlson wasted no time in finding an open Brian Foley, who scored his first game-winning goal of his career.
March led the Maroons with five goals and two assists. He is now 19th on the all-time scoring list at Roanoke with 140 points. His 170 shots on goal are now fourth all-time as well. Quinton scored all five of his goals in the first half and is two points shy of becoming the 40th member of the 100-point club at Roanoke. His 111 career shots on goal are only four shy of 10th all-time.
Foley had a goal along with a team-best three assists while Chris Keating added two goals and two assists. Furdock chipped in two goals and an assist. Carlson had two assists, including the game-winner.
Defensively, Stephen Simmons was huge, collecting nine groundballs and added an assist. Justin Tuma finished with 13 groundballs and added two assists while winning 13 face-offs. Foley and Sam Love collected five and four groundballs, respectively.
Jake Dorsey finished with 10 saves for Roanoke, including six groundballs. Michael Gerbush finished with 14 for Williams.
Tommy Murray had four goals and two assists for the Ephs. David Hawley scored four goals along with an assists. Rueter and Kevin Connolly had two goals and one assist.
The men will battle Randolph-Macon in Ashland, Va. in their ODAC-opener this Saturday, March 28. The Maroons are 32-1 all-time against the Yellow Jackets, dropping its only meeting back in 1972 (13-9). Game time is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
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