NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Trailing 9-3 at halftime,
Preston Huffman completed the Salisbury University men's lacrosse team's rally with an assist on the game-tying goal to
Bret Bergey with under 30 seconds remaining and his first career overtime winner to prevail 10-9 over No. 3 Christopher Newport in Sunday afternoon's Coastal Lacrosse Conference title tilt at Jennings Family Stadium.
After the Captains (16-3, 4-0 CLC) got two early markers,
Riley Strub responded emphatically for the Sea Gulls (16-3, 3-1 CLC), nipping the top corner, then pinballing off checks to score while falling. After the high-octane start, both defenses didn't blink with help from
Matt Sentowski, who made a point-blank save to keep the score tied 2-2 after one.
Strub kept dealing, locating
Bret Bergey open on the doorstep to give Salisbury a 3-2 advantage. The Captains responded with a 7-0 run to race into a 9-3 edge at halftime.
The Gulls started chipping into the deficit in the third frame. Strub lasered his hat-trick and
Connor Herraiz fed Bergey right in front of the crease to make it 9-5.
The Maroon and Gold's wave crashed onto CNU's sails in the fourth quarter. The duo of 66 and 1 linked up again during an extra-man opportunity to start the segment and get SU within three. Strub facilitated for
Michael Leahy to inch the Sea Gull closer and Bergey weaved inside the right hash before he stuck his fourth of the day to make it a one-goal game.
After a clutch denial by Sentowski and a Salisbury timeout, Huffman got a full head of steam and found a cutting Bergey to tie the game with 23 seconds remaining. Neither side could gain a clean possession in the final seconds, forcing overtime.
SU got the first touch of the extra frame and came up empty. Sentowski kept the Gulls alive, stopping Fred Fulkerson from distance. After a quick substitution, Huffman beat his matchup rushing in from the midline, charged down the left alley, and beat Mason Bellinger off-stick side low to lift the Sea Gulls to triumph.
GAME NOTES
- A six-goal rally from the Sea Gulls ties the second-largest deficit erased, only topped by a 12-11 victory over CNU, where Salisbury fell behind by seven on May 12, 2018, in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
- The Sea Gulls have won nine consecutive conference titles, with six straight coming against the Captains, including four during the Coastal Lacrosse Conference era. Overall, SU improved to 28-3 all-time in conference title games and 21-3 against Christopher Newport all-time.
- Salisbury has won the CLC in back-to-back years with a golden goal in the extra frame, as Michael Leahy was the hero last season at Sea Gull Stadium.
- Bret Bergey (5-0-5) and Riley Strub (3-2-5) did the bulk of the damage during the contest offensively. Bergey tied a career-high five goals with three coming in the fourth quarter, including the tying tally. Strub totaled 11 points during the two games of the CLC Tournament.
- Preston Huffman sealed the deal with his 27th goal of the year. The sophomore dished out two assists, including the helper to Bergey to level the score.
- Connor Herraiz picked up three apples to lift himself to 101 points on the season. Herraiz is the active leader in points across all divisions with 377.
- Michael Leahy chipped in a marker. Ryan Della logged an assist.
- Bryce Stevenson caused two turnovers and retrieved two ground balls.
- Blake Malamphy went 12-for-22 at the dot with six ground balls and two caused turnovers. Charles Fritchman won his only face-off of the day and collected four ground balls.
- Matt Sentowski earned the win in between the pipes. Making 12 saves with four coming in the fourth quarter and overtime,
- The Sea Gulls shut out the Captains for the last 32:52 of the affair, the longest CNU has been silenced all season.
- Salisbury outshot Christopher Newport 35-27, won the ground ball battle 34-33, went 25-for-28 on clear attempts and converted on their lone man-up try.
The Sea Gulls automatically qualify for the NCAA Tournament, earning the CLC's second-ever autobid, and awaits their placement in the bracket. The selection show airs tonight at 9 p.m.
HERE.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 24 individual national championships, and 210 conference championships, and have produced 54 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
