LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Needing more than 60 minutes to decide a winner, the Augustana Vikings men's lacrosse team emerged victorious in a 9–8 overtime thriller against Spalding on Saturday.
Augustana struck twice in the opening quarter, with Nik Schaafsma tying the game at 1–1 before Jack Duffy found the back of the net off an assist from Tommy Wimmers to even the score again at 2–2. Spalding added a late goal to take a 3–2 lead after one.
The Vikings responded in the second quarter. Wimmers scored back-to-back unassisted goals just 36 seconds apart to give Augustana its first lead of the afternoon. Schaafsma later added his second goal of the game, assisted by Duffy, before Eddie Resendez finished off a feed from Wimmers to cap a four-goal quarter and give the Vikings a 6–3 halftime advantage.
Spalding clawed back in the third, trimming the lead to one before Wimmers recorded his third goal of the contest to make it 7–5. The hosts answered with a late man-up goal to cut the deficit to 7–6 entering the final period.
The fourth quarter was arguably the most dramatic. Spalding tied the game at 7–7 before taking its first lead since the opening quarter with just over four minutes remaining. Augustana answered when Resendez buried his second goal of the game off an assist from Jack Sergeant with 2:09 left, tying the score at 8–8 and forcing overtime.
In the extra period, Wimmers' fourth goal proved to be his biggest. The Vikings' defense came up with a critical stop before Wimmers took the ball through a pair of defenders and clinched the victory with a shot past the goalie.
In addition to his four goals, Wimmers chipped in two assists for six total points. Resendez added two goals and went 10-for-17 at the faceoff X while collecting six ground balls. Schaafsma contributed two goals, and Duffy finished with a goal and an assist. In goal, Hagan Quigley recorded 18 saves as the Vikings withstood 48 total shots in the victory.
The Vikings are back in action on Friday, March 6 as they welcome Centenary to town. Opening faceoff is slated for 6 p.m.
