WORCESTER, Mass. – College of the Holy Cross scored with 9:11 left in regulation, tying Saturday's Patriot League game at 8-8, but Loyola University Maryland held the Crusaders' scoreless for the remainder of the game, and the Greyhounds scored the last two goals for a 10-8 road victory.
Owen Tunney's goal knotted the game at 8-8 five minutes, 49 seconds into the third quarter, capping a 5-2 Holy Cross run that spanned from late in the second quarter until that goal.
From that point, the Greyhounds (6-4 overall, 3-1 Patriot League) caused four Holy Cross turnovers, and Max Watkins had four of his 15 saves on eight Crusaders shots.
Matthew Minicus, who had four points on two goals and two assists came up with what would be the eventual game-winning goal off of a Holy Cross clear.
He knocked down a pass by Crusaders goalkeeper JR Long, picked up the ground ball and scored with 5:04 left in the fourth quarter to break the tie.
The Crusaders (5-5, 2-3) took back possession off the faceoff, and Watkinson made a save nine seconds later. Holy Cross had two more shots go wide, and then Watkinson made a save on what was ruled a Crusaders' shot as the shot-clock horn sounded.
Holy Cross' possession was nearing its third minute when
Marek Seaman and
Chase Gregory tied up Ryan Botek and put the ball on the ground.
Joe Houlihan came up with the ground ball and cleared it to the offensive end.
Loyola took a shot-clock violation, but the Greyhounds broke up the Crusaders' clear and brought into the offensive zone, calling timeout with 21 seconds left.
Holy Cross set up to double the ball with the goalie on the other side of the 50, and
Mason Cook shot a ball directly into the uncovered goal to make it a two-goal advantage for Loyola.
The Crusaders came up with the ensuing ground ball and took possession with less than 20 seconds to play, but Houlihan picked off a skip pass, and the Greyhounds ran out the clock.
Loyola scored back-to-back goals three times in the first half, taking a 6-3 lead with 7:00 left in the half after
Mason Cook and
Kenan Everhart scored consecutive goals.
Everhart's, however, would be Loyola's last of the half, and Holy Cross would get one with 1:55 left in the second quarter to make it a 6-4 margin at the break.
Tunney scored 1:20 into the half to narrow the gap to one, but
Miles Halter picked up a ground ball off the wing of the faceoff, and he scored 11 seconds later to put Loyola back up a pair.
Andrew Ottomanelli and Jake Doran scored for Holy Cross over the next five minutes, and the game was tied at 7-7. Everhart put Loyola back up one with his second unassisted goal, and third overall, at 6:59 left in the third.
Cook had a game-high four goals and an assist, while Everhart and Minicus each had four points. Everhart recorded a hat trick and an assist, while Minicus scored twice and assisted on two.
Watkinson finished one off his season-high with 15 saves in goal for the Greyhounds.
Loyola will be back at home on Saturday, April 4, to host Boston University at 12 noon at Ridley Athletic Complex.
