Men’s Lacrosse Need Overtime to Win Opening Game

The Frostburg State University (FSU) men’s lacrosse team started the 2020 season undefeated with their opening day victory over Lake Erie. The Bobcats were able to take down the Storm in overtime by a score of 15-14. This win is even more impressive when you consider Lake Erie received votes to be ranked in the top 25 nationally and this was FSU’s first game as a member of Division II.

FSU came out the gate hot with three quick goals in the first four minutes. However, Lake Erie would respond accordingly with six unanswered goals of their own to give them a 6-3 lead with 13:12 remaining in the second quarter. The two teams would be evenly matched for the remainder of the half with 4 goals each to bring the halftime score to 10-7 in favor of Lake Erie.

Sophomore Jake Bowman put the team on his back in the third quarter with two unassisted goals to cut the Lake Erie lead to 11-10. The Bobcats were able to outscore the Storm as a team with a 4-1 scoring advantage in the third quarter to tie the game up at 11 going into what was expected to be the final period.

Seemingly determined to put the game away, the Bobcats came out swinging the the fourth quarter with three quick goals in the first minute and a half of the period, but were held in check for the rest of regulation. Lake Erie scored three goals of their own to bring the score at the end of regulation to 14-14. In the sudden death overtime, junior Paul Ruppert scored his fourth goal of the game to give the Bobcats a season opening victory and drop Lake Erie to 0-3.

Paul Ruppert’s four goals led the Bobcats and tied a game high with Lake Erie’s Neil Gardner. Mike Sipes added and efficient three goals of his own on 4 shots for the Bobcats and Jake Bowman accounted for four points with two goals and two assists.

The Bobcats will go on the road to face off against Alderson Broaddus on February 25 before traveling to Ohio to play in the ECC GMAC Challenge Cup on February 29th.