Herdegen Scores Three Goals for WC

ALLENTOWN, PA -- Alex Ardolino scored the game-winning goal 1:28 into overtime to lift host Muhlenberg College past visiting Washington College, 7-6, this afternoon in the Centennial Conference men's lacrosse opener for both teams. The Mules improved to 2-2 overall with the win, while the Shoremen fell to 2-3 with the loss.

The Mules struck first in the game as Clint Watkins scored off an assist from Corey Aferiat with 10:07 left in the first quarter. The Shoremen evened the score on an extra-man goal by junior midfielder Doug Herdegen (Baltimore, MD/Archbishop Curley) off a feed from senior midfielder Mike Lewis (Mt. Airy, MD/South Carroll) with 8:17 to go in the period. Neither team would score again for the remainder of the period as WC sophomore goalie Peter Stewart (Annapolis, MD/St. Mary's) stopped a shot by Alex Ardolino with four seconds to go in the quarter.

Aferiat put the Mules ahead, 2-1, with a goal 14 seconds into the second quarter. Muhlenberg took a 3-1 lead when Aferiat found Ari Jacobson for a goal with 12:05 to play in the second. Aferiat tallied his third assist of the afternoon on an extra-man goal by Michael Carpetto with 10:48 left in the quarter which pushed the Mule lead to 4-1.The Shoremen got their second goal off the game on an extra-man score by senior attackman Brendan O'Leary (Annapolis, MD/Broadneck) off an assist from junior attackman Josh Perlow (Owings Mills, MD/Boys Latin) with 2:02 to go in the second quarter. The Mules got off three shots in the final 11 seconds of the half, but could not capitalize and took a 4-2 lead into the break.

Washington got back to within one goal when Herdegen scored 48 seconds into the third quarter. Herdegen then evened the score with a goal with 8:15 left in the third, but the Mules regained the lead on a Chase Nadell goal with 2:50 to go in the third, giving Muhlenberg a 5-4 advantage.

The Shoremen evened the score again when junior attackman Shane Kaski (Richmond, VA/Midlothian) fired in a goal with 10:23 left in the fourth. Muhlenberg answered when Jacobson scored with 4:26 to go to pull ahead, 6-5. O'Leary tied the score at 6-6 with an extra-man goal with 33.6 seconds remaining in regulation. The Shoremen won the ensuing face-off and called tirmeout with 21.7 seconds on the clock. A shot by Herdegen when wide left as time expired and the game headed into overtime.

Ardolino's game-winner came on the Mules' fourth shot of overtime and off an assist from Watkins.

Aferiat finished with a goal and three assists for the Mules, while Jacobson finished with a pair of goals and Watkins had a goal and an assist. Watkins also had three ground balls and four caused turnovers for the Mules. MIke Horowitz made 10 saves in the game for Muhlenberg.

Herdegen paced the Shoremen with three goals, while O'Leary added two. Sophomore defenseman Bryan Botti (Hereford, MD/Hereford) was credited with five caused turnovers and three ground balls, while Stewart made 10 saves in goal for Washington.

Each team got off 37 shots and recorded 34 ground balls in the game. Washington held a slight 9-8 edge in face-offs.

The Shoremen return to action next Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. Centennial Conference home game against McDaniel.