Rezendes Nets Game-Winning Goal in AMCATS' 10-9 win over Lyndon State

PAXTON, Mass.—The Anna Maria College men's lacrosse team used back-to-back goals by seniorAlex Rezendes (Nantucket, Mass.) in the fourth quarter to claim a 10-9 comeback win over the Hornets of Lyndon State College in Tuesday afternoon's non-conference game.

The win marks the first on the season for Anna Maria, who improves to 1-3, while the Hornets fall to 0-2.

AMCAT SCORING

Rezendes led the team with four goals, including both the game-tying and game-winning goals. The AMCATS also saw two goals each from freshmen Zachary Bryant (Saco, Maine) and Ryan Rockwal (Chicopee, Mass.), while sophomores Tyler Hagan (Charlton, Mass.) and Andrew Marcotte (Plainville, Mass.) both added single goals of their own.

Senior Alex Rezendes earned a game high 4 goals including the tying and game-winning goal! The AMCATS defeated @lyndonathletics 10-9! #AMCATNation

A video posted by Anna Maria College Athletics (@goamcats) on Mar 15, 2016 at 4:28pm PDT

LYNDON STATE SCORING

The Hornets saw two goals apiece from Kevin McCarthy (West Sayville, N.Y.) and Spencer Aubin (Sharon, Mass.). Ian Pelkey (Milton, Vt.) added a goal and three assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Lyndon State scored the first goal of the game just 44 seconds into the contest and maintained the lead until the 7:20 mark of the fourth quarter, when Rezendes picked up a deflected shot and bested his defender, shooting into the top-left corner.

Nearly four minutes later Rezendes struck again, as Rockwal found him a step outside the crease for the game-winning score.

With 3:21 still to play the AMCATS still had work to do to maintain the lead. An untimely tripping penalty on Anna Maria with 1:51 to play gave Lyndon a man-up opportunity for a minute. The Hornets managed four shots on the opportunity, but two were wide and two were saved by AMCAT netminder Paul Schwarz (Staten Island, N.Y.).

Anna Maria used the final 51 seconds to tally one final good clear en route to their first victory since March 19^th, 2015.

The Hornets scored the first four goals of the game until Rockwal put the AMCATS on the board with one second remaining in the first quarter. A 3-2 scoring advantage for Lyndon in the second half sent them into halftime with a 7-3 lead.

Anna Maria began to chip away at the deficit in the third frame, scoring four goals to Lyndon's two to cut the lead to 9-7 entering the final quarter.

After nearly seven minutes of scoreless play, Bryant used an unassisted goal to cut Lyndon's lead to one, setting up Rezendes to take charge.

GOALTENDERS

Schwarz tallied 16 saves on the day, including five in the fourth quarter, to post his first collegiate victory in between the pipes. Lyndon State goaltender Shane Morin (Salem, N.H.) registered 10 saves on the day.

Paul Schwarz helped lead the AMCATS to victory with 16 saves tonight! #AMCATNation

A video posted by Anna Maria College Athletics (@goamcats) on Mar 15, 2016 at 4:33pm PDT

FACE-OFFS

The AMCATS had an exceptional day on the face-off, as Hunter Hoag (Pittsfield, Mass.) finished 7-for-14. Along with three wins by Malik Griffith (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Anna Maria had their best results yet, finishing 10-for-22.

Young took all 22 face-offs for Lyndon State and finished with a game-high 12 wins.

FINAL COMPARISONS

Both teams finished with an even 36 shots on the day. They also matched each other on clears, as Lyndon State finished 18-for-21 and Anna Maria finished 18-for-24.

The Hornets topped the AMCATS in ground balls, 37-33, led by Adam Peeler (Worcester, Mass.) with six. Anna Maria's Nicholas Cesarski (New Fairfield, Conn.) tallied a game-high eight ground balls for the hosts.

Lyndon State finished with 22 turnovers, while Anna Maria had 26.

WHAT'S NEXT

The AMCATS travel to Massachusetts Maritime on Saturday for an 11:00 a.m. non-conference game. Lyndon State plays Houghton on Monday at 5:00 p.m. in Worcester.