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Army 10, #17 Delaware 9
April 1, 2000

Blue Hens Can't Hold Lead, Stunned by Cadet Charge


WEST POINT, NY -- Tim Pearson scored his fourth goal of the game with 2:53 left to play for the game-winner as host Army completed a big comeback effort to stun the University of Delaware 10-9 in a non-league men's lacrosse game Saturday afternoon at Michie Stadium.

The No. 17 ranked Blue Hens (4-4) led 7-2 at the half and held a 8-4 lead heading into the final quarter but could not hold on to see their two-game win streak come to an end.

The unranked Cadets, who were coming off an 11-10 upset loss to Colgate earlier in the week, also got two goals from John Fernandez to improve to 4-3 on the season. The game was the first meeting between the schools since 1994.

Freshman midfielder Ryan Metzbower (St. Mary's/Severna Park, MD) led the Blue Hens with three goals but his two second half tallies were all the Blue Hens could connect on in the final half. Dave Christopher (Springfield, Pa. HS) also netted two goals for the Blue Hens.

The Hens jumped out to a 2-0 first quarter lead on goals by Metzbower and Christopher. Army cut the lead to 3-2 early in the second stanza on a goal by Pearson, but Delaware reeled off four straight goals from Jason Motta, Chris Purpura, Christopher, and Ken Carrington to take a 7-2 lead into intermission.

But the Delaware offense stalled the rest of the way as the Cadets slowly picked away at the lead. The Hens could manage just one third quarter goal when Metzbower scored with 1:11 left to give UD an 8-4 lead.

The fourth quarter belonged to Army as the Cadets scored the first five goals of the quarter, eventually taking their first lead of the game at 9-8 with 4:46 left on a goal by Jim Scullion.

But Delaware came right back 1:45 later as Metzbower scored off a feed from Liam Wertheimer (Westfield, NJ HS) to tie the game at 9-9 with 3:01. Wertheimer and Jason Lavey (Harborfields/Huntington Stadion, NY) each dished out three assists for Delaware.

Army won the ensuing faceoff and Pearson scored just eight seconds later for what proved to be the game-winner.

Army's Mike Hayes took over in goal in the second half and allowed just two goals to pick up the win. Delaware, which was outshot 43-28, got 13 saves from goalkeeper Dave Mullen (Ridley, Pa. HS).

The Blue Hens will resume play next Saturday when they travel to America East foe Towson to take on the Tigers in a game to be televised live by WMAR-TV in Baltimore.

AGATE:

Delaware...........2.....5.....1.....1.......9
Army.................0.....2.....2......6.....10

Goals: Delaware - Ryan Metzbower - 3, Dave Christopher - 2, R.C. Reed, Jason Motta, Chris Purpura, Ken Carrington; Army - Tim Pearson - 4, John Fernandez - 2, Mike Kamon, Chris Roberts, Tom Martin, Jim Scullion

Assists: D - Liam Wertheimer-3, Jason Lavey-3, Ryan Metzbower; A - Dingman-2, Pearson, Fyfe; Shots: D - 29, A - 41

Saves: D - 13 (Dave Mullen), A - 10 (Dominik Nogie, 30 min., 8 saves, 7 goals; Mike Hayes, 30 min., 2 saves, 2 goals)

Groundballs: D - 28, A- 43

Clears: D - 23 of 30, A - 10 of 19

Faceoffs: D - 7, A- 15

Penalties: D - 7 for 4:30, A - 2 for 1:30; Extra Man Goals: D - 1 of 2, A - 0 of 7

Attendance: 683

 

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