Jason Merola
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Senior Jason Merola scored twice in his final collegiate game

King's Men's Laxers Fall in Overtime Heartbreaker in MAC Tourney Opener

5/1/2012 6:16:00 PM

MAY 1, 2012

KING'S MEN'S LACROSSE DROPS 7-6 HEARTBREAKER TO FDU IN MAC PLAYOFFS

WILKES-BARRE -- Adam Koontz scored twice, including the game-winner with just 0:04 left in the first overtime period as visiting FDU-Florham posted a 7-6 victory over host King's College Tuesday in the Betzler Athletic Complex.

King's, making its first-ever appearance in the MAC Tournament, saw its season come to and end with a 7-8 record. FDU-meanwhile, advances to the semi-finals, improving to 8-7 on the year. King's had won the first meeting of the season between the teams 13-7.

FDU opened the scoring just 1:26 into the game when Paul Colflesh scored unassisted. King's answered with 10:13 left in the first quarter when Pat Bonnot made good after picking up a loose ball in front of the net.

King's took a 2-1 lead with 8:52 left in the opening stanza on a Kevin Sweeny score following a feed from the wing by Ryan Francik. But the Devils countered on an unassisted goal by Adam Koontz at the 5:43 mark of the first quarter. The Monarchs recaptured the lead at 4:36 when Kieran McMahon scored off an assist from Sweeney to give the Monarchs a 3-2 lead after the opening quarter of play.

In the second stanza both teams stepped up the defense and the period remained scoreless for over 13 minutes of play. The Devils, however, broke through on a Cody McHugh with 1:45 left in the half as FDU forged a 3-3 tie at the break.

The third period was nearly identical to the second as neither teams would amount a serious offensive threat. The Devils finally broke through with 6:07 remaining for the only goal of the period as Frank Reda's unassisted tally gave the Devils a 4-3 lead heading into the final period.

The Monarchs regrouped and used back-to-back goals by Sweeney at 9:06 and Jason Merola just 0:48 late as King's took a 5-4 lead. But FDU countered with their own back-to-back flurry a Jake Higgins and Colslesh struck net to put the Devils back on top 6-5 with 5:06 left in the contest.

King's, though, pushed across the final goal of regulation when Merola scored his second tally of the day with 4:28 to play, ultimately sending the game to overtime.

With time running down in the first period of sudden victory, Koonz worked his way to goal from the back of the net and powered through a pair of Monarchs defenders to score the winning goal with only 0:04 on the clock.

Sweeney led King's with two goals and one assist while Merola tallied two goals. Koontz and Colflesh also netted two goals apiece for the Devils. King's goalie Brendan McCrudden made 11 saves in goal, as did FDU keeper George Beck. The game was virtually even statistically as FDU held a 32-31 lead in shots while the Monarchs owned a 25-17 advantage in ground balls.
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