PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HARTFORD, Conn.  – Senior Matt Carroll prevailed in overtime, netting the game-winner 101 seconds into the extra period to propel the University of Hartford men's lacrosse team to a thrilling, 9-8 win over UMBC at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium. With their third-straight victory, the Hawks (6-4), who overcame a three-goal deficit in the game, improve to 3-1 in the America East while the Retrievers' (4-6) conference record dips to 0-3.

Hartford and UMBC went blow-for-blow in the fourth quarter in the Hawks' first home contest in three weeks. Each of the three times the home team gained a one-goal edge, the Retrievers would answer back and tie up the contest. Freshman Griffin Feiner hooked up with sophomore Jaedon Henderson twice to open up the scoring for Hartford in the fourth, while Henderson put Hartford back in front at 8-7 with what looked to be the game-winner with 92 seconds left in regulation.

Winning the ensuing faceoff, the Hawks had possession of the ball with 47 seconds left. After two timeouts, though, they still had possession but were unable to produce a shot as UMBC came away with a key turnover with 10 seconds on the clock. A slashing penalty would then be called on the Hawks at midfield, and following a shot out of a timeout that was wide of the mark from Nate Lewnes, Mark Monroe scored on the restart from five yards away with less than one second left to force overtime.

In the extra period, the Hawks lost the opening faceoff but came away with a turnover of their own. Out of a timeout called by Hartford, Carroll came away with a loose ball and found the back of the net with 2:11 left on the clock to lead his team to its third-straight victory. It was the 11th goal of the season for the senior, who entered his final year with just six combined goals.

Feiner's hat trick, the second of his career, led all goal scorers while Henderson finished the game with two goals and a pair of assists for a game-best four points. Max Maxwell, Nate Lewnes and Jack Gannon each scored twice and added assists to pace the Retrievers' offense.

Stifling defense allowed the Hawks to claw back from a 5-2 deficit that they faced late in the second quarter. Keeping UMBC off the scoreboard for more than 27 minutes, Hartford reeled off four unanswered scores to take a 6-5 edge with 8:08 left in regulation. 

Sophomore Alec Brown pulled the Hawks within two at the halftime break with an unassisted score at the 1:13 mark before the home team ended what was a scoreless third quarter with a pair of goals 63 seconds apart to tie things up at 5-5 with 11 seconds left in the third to complete the comeback. Feiner scored with 8:08 left in the final quarter to give the Hawks their first lead since the first quarter.

The Hawks remain home for their next two games as they next host UMass on Saturday, April 11 at 2 p.m.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

·         UMBC turned the ball over 19 times, with nine of those giveaways being forced by Hartford's defense

·         The Hawks' defense kept the Retrievers scoreless for over 27 minutes (27:34), a drought that began with 3:30 left before halftime and extended into the fourth quarter

·         During UMBC's scoreless stretch, the Hawks erased a three-goal deficit and forced the game's first tie since the score read 2-2 with 29 seconds left in the opening quarter

·         UMBC held the advantage in ground balls (28-25) and at the faceoff X, winning 13-of-21 behind an 11-of-18 effort from Nathan Klein

·         Hartford went 0-2 on extra man opportunities while its man-down unit killed three of the team's four penalties; UMBC's lone man-up goal was the game-tying tally with 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation

·         The Retrievers outshot the Hawks, 37-26, as both teams registered 20 shots on goal

·         Freshman Ryan Vanderford turned away 12 shots on the afternoon while Ruston Souder, his counterpart, registered 11 saves for UMBC 

NEWS AND NOTES: 

·         Hartford's current three-game win streak is its longest of the season

·         The 3-1 start in conference play is Hartford's best under 10th-year head coach Peter Lawrence and is the program's second-best start to America East play

·         Freshman Griffin Feiner netted his second career hat trick in the win while sophomore Jaedeon Henderson, who missed the first seven games with an injury, added four points on two goals and two assists

·         Since Henderson's return to the lineup, the Hawks are 3-0

·         Hartford ended a two-game skid against UMBC with the win and moves to 6-8 in the all-time series 

UP NEXT:.
Hartford steps out of America East action for a pair of non-conference home contests. The Hawks first take on UMass on Saturday, April 11 at 1 p.m. before welcoming instate rival Sacred Heart for a 7 p.m. matchup on Tuesday, April 14.