No. 9 Men's Lacrosse Holds Off Florida Tech 14-12

No. 9 Men's Lacrosse Holds Off Florida Tech 14-12

Nationally ninth-ranked University of Mount Olive saw a six-goal lead disappear, but Jesse Mitchell scored the tie-breaking goal in the third period and what proved to be the winning goal in the fourth period as the Trojans pulled out a 14-12 victory over Florida Tech in non-conference men's lacrosse Monday at Melbourne, Fla. Trojan goalkeeper Ross Bowman recorded a save and a Alex Tindall caused a turnover in the final 30 seconds to thwart a late rally. Tindall also led the Trojan offense with six goals.

Mount Olive (4-0) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first period as Tindall led the attack with a pair of goals. Florida Tech (2-1) came back to outscore the Trojans 7-0 in the second period and take a 7-6 halftime lead.

Florida Tech made it eight unanswered goals two minutes into the third period before Tindall's third goal of the contest with 7:55 left ended Mount Olive's scoring drought. Matt Shields, who assisted on Tindall's goal, tallied one of his own to tie the game 8-8 with 3:20 remaining in the third period.

Mitchell scored an unassisted goal with 1:48 remaining to break the tie and give Mount Olive the lead for good. Tindall scored with 35 seconds left as the Trojans went into the fourth period with a 10-8 lead.

Nick Wynne brought Florida Tech with a man-up goal two minutes into the fourth period, but Tindall answered to give Mount Olive an 11-9 advantage with 9:47 left. Andrew Conley scored another man-up goal for the Panthers four minutes later, but the Trojans answered again as Jake Duarte scored with 3:52 left to make it a two-goal game.

The Trojans capitalized on a man advantage of their own just 21 seconds later as Mitchell scored on a pass from Spencer Gelinas to give Mount Olive a 13-10 lead.

Florida Tech needed just 21 seconds to come back with another man-up goal, but Tindall scored again with 2:10 remaining to extend the Trojans' lead to 14-11.

The Panthers scored with 45 seconds left and won the ensuing face-off, but Bowman stopped a close-range shot. Tindall then caused a turnover and Bowman came up with the ground ball pick up. The Trojans cleared and ran out the clock for the win.

Bowman finished with 13 saves for the Trojans.

Mount Olive concludes its Florida spring break trip Wednesday as the Trojans face off against Saint Leo. Game time is 4 p.m.