Box Score FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After trailing by one midway through the fourth quarter, the first deficit for the Sacred Heart University men's lacrosse team, Logan Liljeberg blasted a go-ahead winner with 56 ticks pictured on the clock. His tally provided the 10-9 Northeast Conference win over Mount St. Mary's (3-7, 0-3 NEC) Saturday afternoon on Campus Field, the first league win for SHU (5-5, 1-2) this season.
How it happened…
SHU negated any hints of the Mountaineers' offense blanking the foe through the first 15 minutes of action, 3-0.
Mount St. Mary's got on the board in the second quarter's 11th minute as Brendan Doyle took advantage of the short-handed Pioneers. However, thanks to two SHU goals prior to the man-up tally, and a 1-for-1 situation to close out the half, the Pioneers toted a 6-2 lead with them to the locker-room.
The Mountaineers lead goal scorer of the contest, Chris DiPretoro (7), found the net nearly eight minutes into the third quarter, the first goal by either team inside the period. His goal triggered a 4-0 run by the visitors eventually leveling the playing field at 2:35, 6-up. Joe Saggese, all alone, snuck in another Pioneers' goal to put the lead back in the hosts favor before the final period commenced, 7-6.
DiPretoro got The Mount on the board first in the fourth, 7-up, but Saggese with the help of Joseph Cipoletti put a one-point edge in SHU's custody with 10:26 left to play.
Relentless, DiPretoro put two balls past Pioneers' keeper, Brooks Dutton, to put the Mountaineers in front for the first time all afternoon, 9-8 (5:25).
Less than a minute later, Max Tuttle made way for another Saggese goal to knot the score at nine apiece with 4:36 remaining.
SHU heightened its offensive pressure firing off five shots while disallowing Mount to get within its striking distance. Following a turnover by the foe, Liljeberg caught hold of the ball moments after before sailing in the goal to put the game in SHU's favor for good.
The numbers…
Saggese emerged as the Pioneers' offensive juggernaut scoring five goals and supplying one assist. He also picked up a pair of balls off the turf and created a Mountaineers' miscue.
Kevin Cop credited a pair of goals while also adding a pair of groundballs.
Nick Albanese fought for a near game-high nine groundballs, which marks a new season-high for the senior, while Cipoletti earned six.
Dutton and Colton King shared time in the cage, but Dutton's near 60-minute performance granted him the victory.
Up next…
The Pioneers travel to the Keystone State for a try at NEC member, Saint Joseph's, Saturday, April 7. The first face-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.
