Men's Lacrosse wins share of OAC Regular Season title with thrilling 11-10 victory at Capital

By Tim Glon

BEXLEY — Ohio Northern rallied from a quick 5-0 deficit to post a thrilling 11-10 victory and claim a share of the Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season title on Saturday afternoon at Bernlohr Stadium.

The Polar Bears (14-2 overall) end their third OAC season as a varsity program tied for first place with John Carroll with a 7-1 record.

ONU will be the No. 2 seed in next week's OAC Tournament and will host third-seeded Baldwin Wallace in the semifinals on Wednesday evening at Dial-Roberson Stadium.

Capital came out strong and raced to a 4-0 lead just 3:28 into the contest and made it 5-0 at the 4:56 mark of the first period.

On the ropes, the Polar Bears stormed back to score the next six goals and led 6-5 with 5:13 left in the half.

ONU would not trail again.

CU tied the game at 6-6 at halftime, but Ohio Northern got a goal from sophomore Shane Olsen (White Bear Lake, Minn.) with 5:02 gone in the third quarter.

Just 55 seconds later sophomore Samuel Neff (Fairfax Station, Va./Trinity Christian) scored to make it 8-6 ONU.

CU scored with 5:46 to go in the third, but sophomore Patrick Moran (Austin, Tex./Bowie) answered with 3:31 left in the quarter to make it 9-7.

After another Crusader goal, sophomore Cameron Marous (Brecksville) 1:27 left in the period to make it 10-8.

Once again Capital pulled within a goal and once again ONU answered when junior Mitch Groves (Fishers, Ind./Chatard) scored with 6:48 remaining in the game.

At the 4:57 mark, Capital scored to get within 11-10.

The Polar Bears then withstood two CU offensive possessions and junior Goalie Alex Pizarro (Boonsboro, Md.) made a save with just 44 seconds left to keep it a 11-10 contest.

ONU cleared the ball, but the Capital defense forced a turnover with 13 seconds left.

CU then had a successful clear, but the Polar Bear defense did not allow a shot before the clock ran out Ohio Northern held on for the exciting victory.

Northern out-shot Capital 41-36 and took advantage of nine Crusader penalties to score four man-up goals, including three in the key 6-0 run to get back into the game.