Potsdam, NY - A long throw-in to the penalty area started the game-winning play for St. Lawrence as the Saints downed the Clarkson University Men's Soccer team 3-2 in two overtimes Saturday afternoon at Clarkson Field.
The Golden Knights lost their third straight against conference opponents, evening their record overall at 5-5-1 and 0-3-0 in the Liberty League. St. Lawrence improved to 7-4-0 and 2-1-0. Clarkson looks to get back on track next weekend against Vassar and Rensselaer.
The game started with impressive intensity that delivered early as Clarkson scored in just the 10th minute. Sophomore Scott Desmond (Enfield, CT) scored his fifth goal of the season when an initial stop by St. Lawrence goalkeeper Emilio Coletta found its way down to the ground in a precarious position in close. Tobin Boomer (Louisville, KY) earned an assist on the goal.
St. Lawrence continued to trail in most of the half, but scored with just over a minute remaining in the period as Alex Soto sent a cross through traffic across the box, finding the foot of Kiel Dwyer, who then sent it back into the far corner for the equalizer.
The Saints controlled play early on in the second half and finally got up on the Knights with under 15 minutes to play. The Saints went off on a break and James Stewart led the charge, taking a hard shot from about 15 yards out that snuck under Clarkson keeper Mike St. Croix (Watertown, NY).
It appeared as if the momentum had turned towards the Saints, but a mishap in front gave Clarkson an opportunity to tie the game and the Knights took advantage. With the play down near the sideline, a cross was sent over near the top of the penalty area. Coletta came out to stop the play, but couldn't handle the bounding ball and Clarkson freshman Brian Buckner (Farmington, NY) took a hard shot into an open net from 18 yards away to tie the score at 2-2.
After a scoreless first extra session, a seemingly harmless throw-in did in the Knights. Stewart made a strong throw into the penalty area from the far sideline, and Paul LaMarca skipped the ball off his head right to the foot of Brendan Gorman. Gorman quickly popped the ball into the net for the game-winner with 7:50 remaining in the second overtime.
Coletta made one save for the Saints and St. Croix stopped five shots for Clarkson. St. Lawrence had a 16-11 shot advantage and took six corner kicks to the Knights' three.
