WEST POINT, Ga. (February 24, 2018) – Trailing, 9-3, in the fourth quarter, the SUNY Delhi men's lacrosse almost came all the way back at Point Saturday in their season opener. If not for one Skyhawks fourth-quarter goal, the Broncos' five consecutive goals thereafter could have forced overtime. But as it stood, Delhi showcased plenty of fight in the 9-8 defeat on its first stop of its spring break trip. Coach Sam Miller's team looks to carry that momentum when they face defending NAIA champion Reinhardt on Monday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Malik Talbert led SUNY Delhi with three goals, scoring the team's first two goals of the contest, as well as one of the Broncos' five-goal rally attempt in the final period. Jeremy Leary racked up a pair of goals, both coming in the fourth quarter, while Luke Anderson and Brenden Scheeler each tallied two points on one goal and one assist. Jake Nygard had one score, as Sam Famolare recorded one assist. Goalkeeper Eric Morse finished with 12 saves.
Talbert's first score gave Delhi an early 1-0 lead with 11:09 to play in the first quarter. Point responded with four straight goals before Talbert earned his second goal of the day to cut into the Skyhawks' eventual 4-2 halftime lead. Anderson opened the second-half scoring with a power-play goal to pull to within one at 4-3 with 11:51. Point, however, responded again with five straight goals, including two each from Chase Parker and William Burgos, to put them up, 9-3, with 12:05 remaining in the match.
Leary kick started the rally with a score with 9:11 remaining. Nygard followed suit with a goal off an assist from Scheeler with 7:36 to play, followed by Talbert's third score from Anderson at 5:09, Leary's second goal on a power play with 22 seconds left and Scheeler's power-play netter from Famolare just before the final horn.
SUNY Delhi finished with a 38-32 lead in shots, as well as winning the faceoff battle, 13-8. The Broncos also led, 29-25, in clears, while grabbing 36 ground balls to Point's 27, forcing 26 Skyhawks turnovers, including ten in the fourth quarter.
