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17 mlax team photo at FIT
12
Winner Wheeling Jesuit WJU 1-4
11
Florida Tech FITM 1-4
Winner
Wheeling Jesuit WJU
1-4
12
Final
11
Florida Tech FITM
1-4
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Wheeling Jesuit WJU 2 2 5 3 12
Florida Tech FITM 2 4 1 4 11

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | | Chris Myers

Downs Fires Game-winner, Cardinals Edge Panthers

MELBOURNE, Fla. – Capping off a seven-goal day, Wheeling Jesuit's Dereck Downs made the last one count the most as the game-winner with four seconds left helped his team edge Florida Tech, 12-11, early Saturday afternoon.
 
For the first time of the season, the Cardinals (1-4) won the second half. Trailing 6-4 at half, Michael Schoniutt and Jordan Getz tied the match at six against the Panthers (1-4) in the opening seven minutes. Downs provided the rest of the offense with three-straight goals for a WJU three-goal lead, before he fired home the go ahead and winning goals in the final six minutes.
 
"After the game against Rollins, I told our guys that deep down, we are winners. The tough stretch we were on wasn't going to last and that soon enough it'll be our time," explained WJU head coach Landon DelPrince. "It would have been easy for us to keep our heads down today, but we're not about throwing in the towel when things get hard. We fight for each other because we're a family, and that's what families do. I'm extremely proud of this team for not making any excuses and getting the job done today against a great team. This is the spark we need."
 
Downs' seven goals are his three-year, single-match career high. He accounted for the seven scores on only 12 shot attempts, while he added eight ground balls.
 
Matt Lee posted a goal and an assist, while Schoniutt, Michael Stillings, Travis Getz and Jordan Getz had one goal apiece. Luke Gilman contributed a pair of assists and eight ground balls. Joe Wright, who had seven ground balls, and McLean Fitzmartin handed out an assist each.
 
WJU goalie Jake Lilly turned away 13 Florida Tech shots. The Panthers outshot the Cardinals, 51-32, but only managed a slight 24-20 edge on shots on goal.
 
Nick Wynne paced the home Panthers with four goals.
 
Trailing 7-6, WJU made its move with four consecutive goals. Travis Getz started the run, before Downs tickled the twine for the next three over a 4:58 period for a 10-7 advantage with 13:00 remaining.
 
Florida Tech rallied with a trio of scores in a row for a 10-10 tie.
 
Downs pushed WJU back in front, 11-10, at 6:13 only to see Florida Tech deadlock the match again (4:26). The WJU junior finished his extraordinary day with the game-winner at four seconds left for his team's first season victory.

"We're definitely going to enjoy this win, but we have a big next weekend. I'm excited to shift our focus to Mercyhurst," added DelPrince.
 
WJU will have a week off before it travels to Erie, Pa., for a Saturday afternoon, March 11, at Mercyhurst. Face-off is set for 1 p.m. 


 
-GoCards-
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