Box Score

ONEONTA, NY-  Zach Gropper (Syosset, NY)/Syosset) scored with just 45 seconds left in regulation to force overtime but the men's lacrosse team ultimately fell in the extra period 9-8 to Farmingdale State on Saturday afternoon. The Rams get their first win of the season to improve to 1-2 overall. The Hawks suffer their first loss of the year and fall to 2-1.

Phil Schaefer (Holbrook, NY/Sachem North) scored two goals and added two assists on the day. Harry Hughes (Holtsville, NY/Sachem East) also had a pair of scores. Gropper, Roy Simmons (Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius),  Irvens Dupuy (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk), and Bobby Cassidy (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside) all notched one goal each.
 
The Rams were led by Jason Opitz who scores three times including the game-winner in the overtime period. Bobby Thomas scored twice. Steven Suris, Mike Strebel, Trace Agostino and Matthew Visintin all scored once.
 
The Hawks scored 1:40 into the first quarter on a goal by Dupuy and then led 2-0 just 34 seconds later on Hughes' first score of the day. The Rams tacked on two goals toward the end of the quarter to even the game at 2-2.
 
Farmingdale State took the lead at 12:47 of the second quarter when Thomas dished out to Opitz for the goal and a 3-2 advantage. Following a cross-check penalty on the Rams Nicholas Mattei at 9:47, the Hawks would take advantage on the man-up opportunity and scored on Schaefer's goal to even the contest at 3-3. Cassidy would then score with a 1:15 left in the quarter to give 'Wick a 4-3 lead at halftime.
 
The Hawks scored the first two goals of the third frame to go ahead 6-3 for their biggest lead of the game. The Rams would rally, however, and score four straight times covering the third and fourth quarters to lead 7-6 with 11:08 remaining to play.
 
Schaefer's goal at 8:05 tied the game at 7-all before Suris' score at 5:03 put the Rams on top 8-7. Farmingdale State would hold that lead until the final 45 seconds of the fourth period when Mike Vaglica (Newton, MA/Newton North) found Gropper for the score and Hartwick knotted the game at eight to force the extra period.
 
The Rams controlled the opening faceoff of overtime and scored on the only shot of period. Vincent Ariano passed to Opitz who fired a hard shot that went past goaltender Carl Lengel (Lynbrook, NY/Lynbrook) and in the goal to give Farmingdale State the win.
 
Lengel started in goal and stopped 12 shots. Thomas Fallon picked up the win for the Rams and had nine saves between the pipes.
 
Defensively, Jake Cooper (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) picked up a team-high four ground balls. He also led the Hawks in caused turnovers with four.
 
Hartwick led in shots 33-31. The Rams had a slight advantage in ground balls, 23-20.
 
The Hawks will face cross-city rival Oneonta State on Tuesday. Game time will be at 4 p.m.