A pair of four-goal performers lifted the Tompkins Cortland Community College lacrosse team to a come-from-behind 11-7 win over Union County College (N.J.) Saturday. The non-region game was the season opener for both teams.
The Panthers were sloppy early, turning the ball over several times in the opening minutes. Union scored the first goal of the game just two minutes into the first quarter. Neither team found the net the rest of the quarter, but Union scored twice in the first two minutes of the second quarter to lead 3-0. Two minutes later, the Panthers started putting things together.
The run started with Dylan Wallace (Brewerton/Liverpool H.S.) putting the Panthers on the board with 11:04 left in the quarter. Avery Watson (Watkins Glen/Watkins Glen H.S.) and Julian Mangino (Ithaca/Ithaca H.S.) scored in the span of 52 seconds, tying the game at 3-3 with 8:07 left in the quarter. Mangino scored the next two and Wallace put a bookend on the quarter with another goal, topping a six-goal run for the Panthers that put the home team ahead 6-3 at the half.
Each team scored twice in the third quarter - Jayden Henry (New Hartford/New Hartford H.S.) and Wallace for the Panthers – sending the game to the fourth quarter with Tompkins Cortland up 8-5. Pat Hartnett (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) wasted little time in getting the Panthers going in the fourth, scoring 18 seconds into the quarter to make the lead 9-5. After Union put one in, Wallace and Mangino sealed the game with back-to-back goals to make it 11-6 with 5:51 left. The visiting Owls scored the last goal of the game in the closing minutes, making the final margin 11-7.
Wallace led all scorers with 8 points on 4 goals and 4 assists. Mangino finished with 4 goals and Watson ended with 2 points on a goal and an assist. Hartnett and Henry each had one goal, and Colum Swan (Tully/Tully H.S.) and Josh Canaan (Tully/Tully H.S.) each had an assist.
Henry won 11 of 19 faceoffs for the Panthers. Kirkland Case (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) earned the win in goal with 10 saves.
Looking ahead
The Panthers jump into Mid-State Athletic Conference play on Wednesday with a home contest against Finger Lakes Community College. Action begins at 4 p.m. in Dryden.