March 29, 2008
Final Stats
Loudonville, N.Y. - Providence's Robert Lamontagne scored with just two seconds remaining in quadruple overtime as the Friars emerged victorious 4-3 over the Siena men's lacrosse team this afternoon in the longest game in Siena Turf Field history. The setback dropped the Saints to an 0-2 start in league play.
Providence (3-5, 3-0) got on the board early with a pair of quick scores. Bennett Murphy and Mark Dillon each found the back of the net to put the Friars on top 2-0 just 4:17 into the action.
In what was a defensive masterpiece by both teams throughout, the Saints (6-3, 0-2) fought hard to earn the equalizers in the second period. Reigning MAAC Player of the Week Ryan Duggan got the Saints on the scoreboard with his 13th goal of the season with 9:48 remaining in the second period off a great feed from Tim Rau.
The Green and Gold evened the tally at 2-2 with 1:06 left in the half when Matt Girsh found the back of the net for his team-leading 20th goal of the year.
Despite the tie, Siena dominated all aspects of the opening 30 minutes, holding an 18-7 advantage in shots, 20-6 edge (including 11-1 in the second period) in groundballs and captured four of the five face-off attempts.
Devin McBride put the Friars back on top at the 12:27 mark of the third with his 10th goal. But the resilient Saints continued to fight hard and tied the game once more at 3-3 on a Bryan Hale score with 14:08 left in the fourth period.
Both teams had several chances in each of the first three overtimes, but goalies Brent Herbst for the Saints and Robert Bryan for the Friars were equally impressive throughout.
After an errant shot wide of the Siena net with just over six seconds remaining in the fourth overtime, Providence retained possession with one final chance. On a broken play to the right of Herbst, Lamontagne wound up and fired the game winner by Herbst with just over two seconds remaining.
Siena's three goals marked their fewest in a game since a 15-2 loss at Lehigh on Mar. 12, 2005. The Saints held an edge over Providence for the game in shots (38-23), groundballs (44-24) and face-offs (11-2).
Scott Montgomery had a dominant game in the face-off X, winning 11 of his 13 face-off attempts while also scooping a game-high eight groundballs.
The Green and Gold return to action Wednesday to take on cross-town rival UAlbany in a highly anticipated game that had been rescheduled from earlier in the year. Face-off is slated for 7 p.m. from John Fallon Field in the state capital in Siena's lone scheduled night game of the season.
