WORCESTER, Mass. – Clark University men's lacrosse (0-8, 0-2 NEWMAC) hosted Coast Guard (2-4, 1-1 NEWMAC) in the first home conference game of the season for the Cougars. Both teams led in the second half but the game would remain tied after sixty minutes and while both teams had chances in overtime, it was the Bears that converted to secure a 15-14 win. 

How it Happened

• The Bears struck first with a goal in the opening minute of the game, but the Cougars responded quickly, as juniors Tate Gorman and Eric Aswad linked up for the tying goal. Following Aswad's score, senior Thomas Michaud added an unassisted goal to give Clark a 2-1 lead.

• Two goals by Coast Guard flipped the lead again, but sophomore Michael Berman Annunziata found senior Brett Newman for the equalizer, with Newman sinking the tying shot to make it 3-3.

• The Bears added two more goals in the next few minutes, with junior Josh Reno making three saves in the final minute of the quarter to keep the game at 5-3 after the first.

• Coast Guard again struck in the opening minute of the second, but Aswad answered quickly with a goal of his own, this time assisted by Newman.

• The Bears extended their lead to as many as four at 8-4, but the Cougars battled back, starting with Berman Annunziata scooping up a ground ball off his own saved shot and scoring on the second effort.

• After a Coast Guard response, Berman Annunziata struck again, this time assisted by Newman with 24 seconds left in the half, cutting the deficit to 9-6 at the break.

• Following a scoreless first five minutes of the third quarter, Clark erupted for three goals in a two-minute span. Berman Annunziata opened the run with an unassisted strike, before Aswad and Michaud linked up to cut the deficit to one. Then Berman Annunziata found Gorman, whose goal with 8:11 remaining tied the game at nine apiece.

• The tie was short-lived, as Aswad continued his strong day with an unassisted goal at the 6:34 mark to give Clark a 10-9 lead.

• Coast Guard answered late in the quarter, tying the game at 10-10 heading into the fourth.

• The Bears struck first in the final frame, but the Cougars responded once again, with Gorman finding Berman Annunziata on the man-up to even the score at 11-11.

• Following a save from Reno, Clark scored two quick goals, starting with Newman finishing a feed from Berman Annunziata, before junior Jason Shackley set up junior Zach Sinclair to make it 13-11 with 8:30 remaining.

• Coast Guard kept the pressure on, scoring at 8:22 and 5:36 to tie the game once again. Clark briefly regained the lead as Gorman and Berman Annunziata connected again, but a goal by the Bears with 1:58 remaining sent the game to overtime tied at 14-14.

• A late penalty gave Coast Guard a man-up opportunity to start overtime, but a critical save by Reno killed off the advantage.

• Clark had a chance of its own, putting a shot on goal with 1:30 remaining, but it was saved. Coast Guard then capitalized on its final opportunity, scoring the golden goal with 11 seconds left to secure a 15-14 win.

Inside the Box Score

• The Cougars fired 26 shots on goal, scooped 37 ground balls, caused eight turnovers, and won 19 of 32 faceoffs (.594).

• Berman Annunziata was phenomenal, scoring four goals and recording a career-best four assists for a career-high eight points in the game. He now leads the team in goals (12), assists (8), and points (20) this season.

• Gorman added two goals and two assists. This marks his third straight game with multiple points and his second with four points.

• Newman also had two goals and two assists, while Aswad scored three times and added an assist. Both players recorded career highs with four points.

• Senior Patrick O'Rourke scooped eight ground balls and was stellar at the faceoff X, winning 15 of 24 (.625).

• Reno made ten saves in goal for the Cougars, his fifth game this season with double-digit saves.

What's Next 

The Scarlet and White return home Tuesday for a 7:00 PM start against Massachusetts Maritime.