Aggie lacrosse team falls to Fort Lewis in overtime
The Utah State University men’s club lacrosse team lost 10-9 in overtime to the Fort Lewis Skyhawks in an intense rival game Friday at Romney Stadium.
The Aggies (1-6) were hoping to stop a 3-game losing streak but came up short as a chance to win in regulation failed.
A flick-shot from the Aggies bounced off the iron of the goal as time expired and they were headed into the extra period.
In overtime, the Skyhawks (2-6) nabbed the first face-off and scored before a minute had run off the clock. Leaving many of the Aggies on the field in shock.
A shot bouncing off the goal was a common spectacle Friday as the Aggies had three other shots bounce off the goal posts and Fort Lewis had two of their own.
The Aggies also had four goals taken away because of goal crease penalties.
The game started off very intensly, both verbally and physiclly. In the first quarter alone there were more than six penalties between the two teams. The Aggies piled up 12 penalties for the game to Fort Lewis’s 10.
The Aggies started the second quarter leading 2-1 but it was Fort Lewis who grabbed the quarter’s first face-off and scored, starting a 3-0 run.
The Aggies stopped the run with hustle plays and a goal, and went into halftime down 3-4.
The Skyhawks jumped on the Aggies coming out of halftime and scored two quick goals, giving the visitors a 6-3 lead and leaving the home team scrambling for answers.
Then came Will Babcock for the Aggies. With the Skyhawks one man down because of a penalty, Babcock scored an unassisted goal that sparked a 5-0 run for the home team.
The run was capped off with a score from team captain Al Garner.
The Aggies took a time-out with 18 seconds left in the third quarter. Garner took the inbound and scored, giving Utah State an 8-6 lead after three periods of play.
It wouldn’t last however. Utah State went cold for the forth quarter and only scored one goal to Fort Lewis’s three before the game was decided in OT.
San Diego State 12
Utah State 5
With the overtime loss to Fort Lewis just 15 hours earlier still fresh on their minds, the Aggies came out slow against the San Diego State Aztecs and watched the visitors grab a 7-0 lead before finally settling down.
Half-way through the second quarter and trailing by seven, the Aggies turned their play up a notch.
Utah State posted a 4-2 run behind a strong defensive front – holding the Aztecs scoreless in the third period.
The Aggies were trailing by five to start the forth.
In the forth quarter, San Diego State went deep on the 20-plus roster and put some fresh legs on the field to help put the game away.
The Aztecs were able to score the next three goals and put the game out of reach for USU.
The Aggies got the last score with just under two minutes to play that left the final score 12-5.
Utah State has their toughest challenge yet coming up as they go to No. 1 Colorado State next.
The Aggies’ next home game will be against in-state-rival Utah in Romney Stadium on April 16 at 1 p.m.
-caseya@cc.usu.edu
A Fort Lewis player comes up behind a Utah State player during Friday night´s game at Romney Stadium. The Aggies fell 10-9 to Fort Lewis in overtime and fell to San Diego State 12-5 Saturday. (Photo by John Zsiray)