By Twitter: @alexhoward99.

VESTAL, N.Y.- The Binghamton men's lacrosse team led for much of the game, but eventually fell to Delaware, 12-11 in overtime, Saturday afternoon. Johnny Maher led BU with three goals and two assists in the 2016 home opener at the Bearcats Sports Complex.


After the visitors tied the game at 4 in the second quarter, the Bearcats went on a 4-0 spurt to take control of the contest. Freshman Joe Licata scored his first collegiate goal, as Thomas McAndrew assisted on the goal with 4:33 left in the half. Just 64 seconds later, Ben Kocis found the back of the net to make it 6-4. BU continued its stellar stretch with a transition goal. Eric Schweitzer carried the ball into the offensive end, finding McAndrew. The sophomore looked for Sean Gilroy and the ball hit Gilroy and bounded past the Blue Hen goalkeeper, giving the hosts a 7-3 margin. Stephen Petrelli then closed the half with a sterling effort, intercepting a pass in the defensive zone and sprinting ahead as time ran down. The sophomore finished the play with a blast into the goal, making it 8-4 with six seconds remaining in the first half.


(Courtesy: BU Athletics)

In the third quarter, Licata scored again, but Delaware inched closer at 9-7 with 3:22 left in the frame. Maher hit Zach Scaduto for a goal at the 2:32 mark and then Maher made his own move for his third goal of the game. The score gave BU an 11-7 lead heading into the fourth. Tanner Cosens was terrific in goal, tallying five stops in the third alone.


Delaware scored twice early in the fourth period, and added another goal midway through. The teams went back and forth from there, with neither side scoring. The visitors evened the score with 15 seconds to play, forcing overtime. The Blue Hens won the opening faceoff and scored 39 seconds into the extra session.


To start the match, Delaware scored first, but Maher answered with his first goal of the year. At the 4:32 mark of the first, Maher set up Kocis for a goal and a 2-1 lead. Late in the period, T.J. DiSanto pushed forward in transition, passing to George Deignan, who scored his first goal of the season for a 3-1 BU advantage.


Maher, making his first start at attack, notched another goal 34 seconds into the second quarter, stretching the hosts' lead to 4-1. Delaware went on to tie the contest before BU grabbed the halftime lead.


Maher set new career highs with three goals and two assists. Kocis and Licata each scored two goals and Scaduto added a goal and a helper. McAndrew logged two assists. Cosens collected 12 saves in net. Andrew Romagnoli led Delaware with four goals and a helper.


BU (0-4) hosts UMBC in the America East opener on Saturday, March 19. Faceoff is slated for 1 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Delaware improved to 3-5 with the win.


courtesy of bubearcats.com