John Gregitis	Alec Mikrut	Nicholas McKaba
Gus Sturm	Brian Quinn	Mike Deliberti

Box Score

SCRANTON, Pa.—The University of Scranton men’s lacrosse team learned Friday evening that “it ain’t over till it’s over” in its Landmark Conference opener against Catholic University at Fitzpatrick Field.

Stymied by a Cardinal defense that held them scoreless until the 10th-minute mark of the fourth period, the Royals pulled out a dramatic 5-4 victory on an unassisted goal by senior midfielder John Gregitis (Wayne, Pa./St. Joseph’s Preparatory) with 3.6 seconds remaining.

Gregitis finished with a goal and two assists, sophomoreAlec Mikrut (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) had two goals, and senior Gus Sturm (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) and freshman Brian Quinn (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) scored one apiece as the Royals won their second straight game to improve to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

Catholic University, which fell to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in the Landmark, was led by senior Walter Hickey (Thornwood, NY/Westlake) with two goals, junior Billy Kirmsse (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) had a goal and an assist, and William Cowan (Greenville, Del./Salesianum) chipped in a goal.

For 50 minutes, it appeared as if the Royals might be shut out for the first time since April 25, 2009.

The Cardinals’ twice killed one-minute penalties—one late in the third period and another to start the fourth quarter—without even allowing Scranton to get off a shot attempt.  

Penalties, however, came back to haunt Catholic later in the fourth period, as Mikrut and Quinn each scored on man-up situations sandwiched around a goal by Sturm that erased a 3-0 deficit and tied the game at 3-3 with 4:17 left.  Twenty-six seconds after Quinn’s goal, Mikrut struck again, scoring with 3:51 left to give Scranton a 4-3 lead.  In the final minute, Catholic tied it up on an unassisted goal by Hickey with 37 seconds left.

Royal junior Matt Finor (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock South) then won the ensuing face-off and senior Mike Deliberti (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) came up with an key ground ball to set up Gregitis’ game-winning goal.  

Sophomore Harrison Holak (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) made a game-high 13 saves in goal for Catholic while Scranton sophomore Nicholas McKaba (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris) stopped 10 shots.

The Royals held a 25-23 advantage in shots and won 7 of 12 face-offs, but the Cardinals dominated the ground ball battle, 39-23.

Scranton returns to action this Wednesday, March 19, against King’s College in Wilkes-Barre beginning at 4:00 p.m.

--ROYALS--