COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Jack Giuffre played hero for the Kenyon College men's lacrosse team with a last-second goal that clinched the Owls' 7-6 win over Haverford College. The victory kept Kenyon's record perfect at 4-0, while Haverford fell to 1-4.
Giuffre was second on the team in points coming into the game with four goals and eight assists, and he doubled his goal total with four today. None were more significant than his game-winner with eight seconds left in the evenly-matched contest.
The game got off to a slow start offensively as the teams combined to miss their first 10 shots. Haverford was the first to break through at the 5:14 mark, but Kenyon answered quickly. Adam Hall made a save that ignited an Owls possession, and Colin McCarthy found the back of the net after a timeout to even things up at 1-1.
Evan Bongers narrowly missed giving Kenyon a lead just seconds into the second frame, but his shot hit the post. The Owls missed their first four attempts before a turnover turned into a quick Haverford goal at the 11:10 mark. However, Kenyon flipped the script and turned a turnover into a transition goal just over a minute later, with Giuffre converting the equalizer after an assist from Rollins Heath
Haverford took the game's next nine shots, including six on one possession, but Hall and the Owls held firm. The defensive stand included a save by Hall on an extra-man opportunity for Haverford, and Kenyon flipped the script again from there. Haverford was called for consecutive penalties on the Owls' ensuing possession, and Joe Boesel helped Kenyon take advantage just after the penalty clock ended by scoring a goal off an assist from Heath.
Thomas Nelson won the ensuing face-off, and Giuffre doubled the Owls' lead to 4-2 shortly thereafter. Haverford scored with 19 seconds left before halftime, but Kenyon's momentum persisted into the third period. Giuffre and McCarthy scored 87 seconds apart, putting the Owls up 6-3 at the 7:51 mark.
However, Haverford controlled possession and took the last nine shots of the quarter, but they only converted their first of those attempts. A Kenyon penalty and turnover to end the third frame proved costly as Haverford scored a man-up goal 18 seconds into the final quarter, but the Owls maintained a 6-5 edge.
Kenyon came up empty on a six-shot possession that saw Chase MacCartee hit the post, leaving the door open. Haverford took advantage and tied the game with 8:33 left to play, and the game seemed destined for overtime after both defenses and goalies locked things down late. Hall, a first-year, finished with a season-high 16 saves while posting a strong .727 save percentage.
Haverford was poised to take the game's final shot, but an offside call with 10 seconds left gave Giuffre and the Owls just enough time to escape with a win. The senior sprinted down the left side and fired a mid-range shot that found its mark with eight ticks remaining, and Nelson controlled the final face-off to help Kenyon clinch the 7-6 win.
The Owls return to Colorado College's Washburn Field on Thursday, March 8, to take on the hosting Tigers (1-3) at 4:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (6:30 p.m.EST).
