Defense steps up as Men's Lacrosse holds on for key OAC win at Capital, 7-6

By Tim Glon

COLUMBUS — Ohio Northern used a dominating defensive effort in the fourth quarter to hold for a 7-6 victory at Capital in an Ohio Athletic Conference men's lacrosse contest on Friday night at Bernlohr Stadium.

The Polar Bears improve to 5-4 overall and are 4-3 in the OAC, while the Crusaders fall to 5-4, 2-4.

Leading 7-6 early in the fourth quarter, ONU forced the hosts into turnovers on its final seven possessions, not allowing a CU shot in the game's final 11:18.

Northern possessed the ball for 10 minutes of the final 12:33 and 5:35 of the final 6:30 to protect the 7-6 lead.

ONU did not trail in the game, scored the first three goals and led 5-1 with 2:13 gone in the second quarter.

Capital would answer by scoring five of the next seven goals to get within 7-6 with 13:19 left in the game.

But Ohio Northern would control play in the fourth quarter and hang on for the victory.

Senior Branden Stoeffler (Fishers, Ind.) forced three turnovers, including a key one in the game's final minutes, to lead the ONU defense.

ONU out-shot CU 30-29 and sophomore keeper Cole Zaferakis (Liverpool, N.Y.) had nine saves in goal and a .600 save percentage for the victors.

The two defenses dominated most of the game, forcing a combined 48 turnovers (26 CU, 22 ONU).

Junior Nick Gosnell (Dublin/Jerome) scored two goals and senior Joe O'Connell (Fishers, Ind.) added a goal and two assists for the Polar Bears.

The Polar Bears will return to action Wednesday night at Baldwin Wallace in a non-conference battle at Finnie Stadium.