Late Pestrichello Goal Lifts Men's Lacrosse Over SJC, 15-14, Sunday Afternoon

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Sophomore midfielder Nick Pestrichello (Newington, Conn.) scored with 19 seconds left in the game, lifting the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's lacrosse team over Saint Joseph's College of Maine (SJC), 15-14, Sunday afternoon during Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play at the USJ Lacrosse Field in West Hartford, Conn. With the result the Blue Jays moved to 7-2 overall on the year and 3-0 in GNAC play, while the Monks dropped to 4-6 on the year and 1-1 in GNAC play.

KEY MOMENTS 

• The Monks opened the game on a 2-0 run before Pestrichello netted his first goal of the game, cutting the deficit to 2-1 at the 8:57 mark.
• SJC fired back with two more goals, until freshman attack Matthew Wurszt (Wilbraham, Mass.) rifled a shot into the net at the 3:53 mark, cutting the gap to 4-2 entering the second quarter.
• The Monks opened the scoring first in the second quarter, but senior attack Ryan Paltauf (Southbury, Conn.) answered immediately, firing a strike into the goal and keeping the Blue Jays within two, 5-3, with 12:11 left in the half.
• The goal started a 3-0 scoring run for USJ, as Pestrichello and junior midfielder Christian Decker (Bristol, Conn.) added back-to-back goals, tying the game at 5-5 with 8:12 remaining in the second quarter.
• SJC responded with a pair of goals, but Decker would net his second of the game with 2:46 to go in the second period, closing the gap back to one, 7-6, as the game reached halftime.
• Decker carried the momentum into the second half, rounding out his hat trick at the 13:36 mark, leveling the game at 7-7.
• The Monks retook the lead, but Pestrichello did not allow it to last long, completing his own hat trick with 10:07 on the clock, tying the game at 8-8.
• However, SJC scored three unanswered goals to close out the quarter, establishing an 11-8 edge entering the fourth quarter.
• The Blue Jays responded in kind to open the fourth stanza, as Paltauf, and back-to-back goals from senior midfielder Sam Barbetti (Guilford, Conn.), equalized the game at 11-11 with 7:44 left to play.
• SJC fired right back with a pair of goals, taking a 13-11 edge, before junior attack Evan Zimnoch (Southington, Conn.) found the back of the net, closing the gap to one, 13-12, with 2:32 left to play.
• The Monks looked to put the game to bed, scoring a man-down goal with 1:29 remaining to take a 14-12 lead.
• However, junior midfielder Luke von Borstel (Massenna, N.Y.) changed the momentum for USJ, winning numerous key faceoffs as Barbetti closed the gap to one, before Paltauf tied the game at 14-14 with 29 seconds left to play.
• Von Borstel came up clutch once again, winning a faceoff before Pestrichello grabbed the ground ball, ran down the field and fired a shot past the SJC goalkeeper, establishing a 15-14 USJ lead with 19 seconds left to play.
• The Blue Jays won the ensuing faceoff and ran down the clock to escape with the 15-14 victory.

NOTES 

• Pestrichello paced the team with four goals.
• Paltauf, Decker and Barbetti also all recorded hat tricks on the day.
• Paltauf, Wurszt and senior attack Evan Baden (Burlington, Conn.) each dished out an assist.
• Barbetti and von Borstel tied for a team-high seven ground balls.
• Baden and Barbetti caused a team-best two turnovers.
• Von Borstel paced the team at the faceoff "X" winning 13 of his 20 attempts.
• Senior goalkeeper Trey McCann (Simsbury, Conn.) played all 60 minutes in the cage for USJ, picking up the win (6-2) after tallying nine saves.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays continue Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Saturday March 30, rounding out a four-game home stand against Dean College. Opening faceoff against the Bulldogs on the USJ Lacrosse Field in West Hartford, Conn., is set for 1:00 p.m.

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