MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - Vikings Lacrosse finalized their host tournament against Piedmont University where they sent it to overtime and fell 12-11.
With both teams securing a win in yesterday's games, they knew today would be a battle!
Berry struck first after five minutes of play with a goal from freshman
Finn McClendon. The Lions response to McClendon's goal was three straight to take the lead at 3-1 with four minutes to go in the first.
Both teams held strong in the goal until the start of the second period. The Vikings again started the scoring with a goal from
Nick Caruti, but Piedmont answered with a quick goal of their own, 4-2.
Berry found some momentum behind
Orion Danou's goal followed by the first of three goals from
Michael McKenzie that tied the game at four with six minutes to go in the first half.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, the Lions sunk three more goals past to close out the half and be up 7-4 at halftime.
The third was dominated by the home team, outscoring Piedmont 5-1 in the period with
Henry Tynes playing a strong role between the pipes.
It was
Michael Beirne's back-to-back goals that tied the game at eight and took the lead that the team hadn't seen since the beginning of the game (9-8).
The Vikings looked good with a spark of energy and
Michael McKenzie raised the lead to two to start the fourth. Piedmont's late two goals under five minutes tied the game at eleven.
After a Lions timeout,
Derek Black forced a turnover to give Berry the last shot, but Beirne's shot went just wide and sent the game to overtime.
Golden Goal style brought nerves to the extra four minutes.
Caleb Johnston won the face-off to give the Vikings the advantage and opportunity to take the game. However, after four shots with man turnovers by the Lions, Berry was unable to fly it past the goalie.Â
Piedmont cleared the ball and scored with two seconds remaining in a man-up situation to take the game.
The Vikings will return to action at Christopher Newport University on February 17.
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