Saturday, April 21, 2012 (Northfield, Vermont) - Freshman attacker Michael Trocchi's goal with 18 seconds remaining in the third overtime lifted Mount Ida College men's lacrosse past Norwich University 10-9 April 21 in the final regular season contest of the season.
The two sides, battling for positioning on the Great Northeast Athletic Conference's postseason tournament chart, gave a good Senior Day 2012 crowd at Howard Field all it could ask for and more. The host Cadets (8-6, 6-3 GNAC) appeared on the verge of a big league win, holding a 9-6 advantage with 3:27 to play. However, another visiting team rally subdued Coach Neal Anderson's squad, as Mount Ida (12-4, 8-1 GNAC) posted three scores down the stretch, including a goal with only 14 seconds left in regulation that attacker Zach Jacobson got around Paradiso's stick into the bottom left side of the net, to send the game into extra time.
Each side had chances to score the "golden goal" in the first two overtimes. However, Maroon and Gold sophomore keeper Mark Paradiso (Westford, Mass.) and Mustang net minder Jimmy McAllister each made key saves to keep the opposition off the board. Trocchi's game-winner occurred with the game on the brink of a fourth overtime period, as a turnover in front of Norwich's net gave Mount Ida a 2-on-1 opportunity.
NU held a quick 1-0 lead after sophomore midfielder Ian Mendoza (Mount Airy, Md.) broke through the Mustangs' defense and scored at the 7:48 mark of the first period. Mount Ida responded with three straight goals to go up 3-1 at the end of the frame. NU answered with all three second period scores and one early in the third for a 5-3 lead which it held until the visitors closed the game with four straight goals.
The Cadets, seeing another tough home loss close an 0-2 week, held a 51-37 shots advantage. Junior midfielder Arron Canarelli (New Hartford, N.Y.) had a team-best 11 attempts. Freshman attacker Seth Fuller (Wheaton, Ill.), with three goals, and senior midfielder Patrick Sikora (Montpelier, Vt.), scoring twice, registered multiple-goal games. Paradiso, to go with 11 saves, joined Fuller and junior defender Thomas Andrews (Hartland, Vt.) in the team lead with three ground balls each.
Mount Ida's offensive trio of Jacobson, Trocchi and junior Gilson Fernandes combined for the Mustangs' 10 goals. Jacobson and Fernandes recorded four each. McAllister ended with 17 saves in net.
Both teams will wait to see where they are seeded in the league post-season tournament tomorrow evening or Monday.