Late tiebreaking goal sinks Dons

Loyola unable to answer after Bullis’ Bender scores with less than 7 minutes left

The fourth quarter started out well for Loyola Blakefield against Bullis in Saturday’s PNC Lacrosse Invitational.

But the rest of the way brought nothing but frustration for the No. 6 Dons.

After getting a tying goal from junior attackman Ryan Dunn in the opening minute of the quarter, the Dons had most of the chances. But Bullis sophomore Jonathan Bender scored with 6:21 to play and the Bulldogs protected the lead for a 5-4 win over the Dons at Loyola Maryland’s Ridley Athletic Complex.

Before Bender’s goal, Loyola Blakefield (1-3) had one shot hit the post and two more turned away by Bullis goalie Chris Del Rosario, who saved four of his nine shots in the final quarter. The last came in the closing minute when Liam Bateman (two goals) couldn’t get the tying goal past him.

“It’s even more frustrating when you’re the guy who takes the last shot and it’s saved,” Bateman said. “I think they played a great zone. We beat it a couple times, but the goalie made a great save at the end and you have to give him a lot of credit for that.”

The Dons took their only lead at 3-2 when Bateman finished a feed from Dunn (two goals, one assist) with 10:45 to play in the third quarter. But the Bulldogs (10-1) quickly tied it when Alex Trippi scored his second goal of the game a little more than a minute later.

When Robert Schain gave Bullis a 4-3 lead with just six seconds left in the third quarter, it might have been a momentumshifting goal. But the Dons came out fast in the fourth quarter, tying the game on Dunn’s goal and then pressing for the go-ahead goal that never came.

“We didn’t necessarily shoot as well as we possibly could have, but I also think that [Del Rosario] in the cage for them is very good, so I give him a lot of credit,” Loyola coach Ben Rubeor said. “I think it certainly wasn’t the result we wanted, but I certainly think we executed our game plan. I just think we needed to make a few more plays.”

While the Bulldogs were playing their seventh game in 13 days and 11th overall , this was the Dons’ fourth game of the season and first since March 30.

The Bulldogs got off to a fast start with goals from Bender and Trippi in the game’s first four minutes, but Loyola was able to settle in to keep it at 2-0 going into the second quarter. The Dons went on to tie it at 2 at halftime. Goals: LB—Bateman 2, Dunn 2; B—Bender 2, Trippi 2, Schain. Assists: LB—Clothier, Dunn; B—Trippi. Saves: LB – Stout 6; B – Del Rosario 9. Half: 2-2.