(Ann Arbor, MI) - The #5 Concordia Cardinals Men's Lacrosse team opened their 2024 campaign at the #4 Cumberlands Patriots on Wednesday evening. These two teams squared off against each other twice last season, with the Patriots taking both games.
FIRST PERIOD
The first period saw the Cardinals outshoot the Patriots 13-8, but Cumberlands would be the team to get on the board first as they scored at the 4:58 mark in the period. Almost exactly two minutes later they would tack on another goal to make the score 2-0.
SECOND PERIOD
The Patriots would pick up their third straight goal of the game when they scored at the 9:06 mark in the second. 1:05 later, Andrew Simmons, after picking up a ground ball, tallied his first goal of the season. After a couple of possession changes, Ivan Progar, in his first CUAA game, would put the Cardinals on the board again to make it 3-2. Concordia put three shots on goal the rest of the period, but the score would remain the same.
THIRD PERIOD
Both offenses exploded as there were a total of 8 goals scored in the period. Cooper Regimbal evened the score at 3-3 with 12:04 left in the period. The next goal was scored by CUAA's Ryan Davis who gave the Cardinals their first lead of the game. Concordia kept the pressure on the Patriots defense when Spencer Guppy recorded a goal off a pass from Ross Preston who gave CUAA the two-goal lead.
That lead lasted about 3-and-a-half minutes when Cumberlands quickly tied the game up and then took the lead with a quick goal off the faceoff. Following a CUAA turnover CU scored once again for a 7-5 lead. Sam Saje picked up a faceoff win on the ensuing faceoff and 22 seconds later Noah Sorenson made it a 7-6 game. The Cardinals had three shots, two on goal, in the final minute but were unable to score.
FOURTH PERIOD
The final 15 minutes proved to be exciting after CUAA grabbed three goals to the Patriots two. CU picked up a goal before Evan Stuart recorded his first goal of the season. Neither team was able to get on the board over the next 3:43 before the Patriots made it a two goal game once again.
Ethan Wagner would win the ensuing faceoff and Andrew Simmons picked up a second goal off a pass from Ross Preston. Sam Bowling saved a shot at the 0:40 mark and CUAA would call a timeout. 22 seconds later Ivan Progar would even the game with a shot beating the goalie high as he was falling down to tie the game at 9 goals apiece.
OVERTIME
With the golden goal rule in effect both teams would be looking to grab that first goal. After a failed Cumberlands possession, Andrew Simmons hit the crossbar with the Patriots gaining possession. 35 seconds later the Patriots would put a ball in the back of the net for their first win of the season.
TOP PERFORMERS
Ivan Progar and Andrew SImmons each netted two goals in the game as Ross Preston assisted on two as well. Sam Saje, who went 13-21 on faceoffs, picked up a team-high 8 ground balls. Jeff Harrison forced a team-high 4 turnovers.
In goal for the Cardinals was Sam Bowling, who saved 50% of the shots he faced as he had 10 saves.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will open their 2024 home schedule as they will face off against NCAA Division II Alma College on Wednesday, February 21 with a 1 PM faceoff.
