Riley's Goal 12 Seconds Into OT Lifts No. 5 Dowling Over No. 1 Men's Lacrosse, 8-7
Box Score
BROOKHAVEN, N.Y. (March 26, 2011) – Louis Riley scored the game-winning goal on a face-off 12 seconds into overtime to lift fifth-ranked Dowling College over top-ranked C.W. Post, 8-7, in an East Coast Conference men's lacrosse game Saturday afternoon at Golden Lion Field.
Dowling improves to 6-1 overall while handing C.W. Post its first loss of the season, whose record now stands at 9-1.
C.W. Post took a 3-1 lead through the first quarter but the Golden Lions rallied for four unanswered goals in the second to take a 5-3 lead at the halftime break.
Dowling scored its sixth goal on a man-up goal from Kevin McElhone. The Pioneers trimmed the lead to one after senior midfielder Mike Messina (Sayville, N.Y.) scored a pair, including a man-up goal on a pass from junior attacker Eddie Plompen (West Sayville, N.Y.).
In the fourth quarter, Dowling pushed its lead to 7-5 on a goal Vito Demola after gaining control of the ball on a turnover from senior goalkeeper Mike Giordano (Farmingdale, N.Y.) with 3:35 left to play in the game.
Still trailing by two with less than a minute left in regulation, C.W. Post's offense regrouped and scored two - the first from senior attacker Nick Coric (Walnut Creek, Calif.) at the 31-second mark and the equalizer from Plompen with three seconds to play to force the extra frame.
Demola led Dowling with three goals while teammate Dan Abbene added two.
Messina led the offensive scoring for C.W. Post with three goals while Coric added two goals and an assist. Plompen finished the game with a goal and two assists.
C.W. Post returns to action when it hosts NYIT on Saturday, April 2 at 12 p.m. on Hickox Field.