By Joseph Staszewski
St. John’s had its heart and its winning streak broken.
The Red Storm men’s lacrosse saw Big East rival Georgetown tie the score with seconds remaining in regulation before winning 14-13 in overtime in front of 2,400 people at Bethpage high school Saturday afternoon. The lost snaps a four-gaming winning streak for the No. 10/14 ranked Red Storm. A win would have went a long way to helping to secure the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth.
“This was a huge game,” St. John’s Coach Jason Miller said. “Streaks and records and rankings don’t mean anything.”
His team took a 13-12 lead on the third goal of the game from Kieran McArdle, who added five assists, with 6:29 left in the fourth quarter. It appeared the Red Storm (7-2, 2-2) was going to be able to hold on, but Ryan Fitzgerald turned the ball over at midfield trying to clear it.
Georgetown’s Patrick Murray scooped up the ground ball and flipped it behind his back to Charles McCormick. The first save was made by backup keeper Harry Burk, in for Jeff Lowman, who experienced concussion-like symptoms at the half. McCormick would put in the rebound with 10.2 seconds left and Dan McKinney scored the winner shortly into overtime for the Hoyas (5-6, 2-1).
“After the first save there was a little relief,” McArdle said. “I thought we were going to pick up the ball, but then it went right back into the kid’s stick.”
Despite the loss the junior attack added to his fine season. McArdle is a candidate for the Tewaaraton Award, given annually to the nation’s best college lacrosse player. He is second in the country behind Albany’s Lyle Thompson in points per game (6.89) and assists (36) and seventh overall in goals with goals per gamer (2.89). McArdle shows a tremendous ability to quickly read defenses and find cutting teammates.
“We can’t get the ball in his hands enough,” Miller said. “He’s that important to us.”
McArdle has been a big reason for St. John’s’ unprecedented success. It entered the game against the Hoyas with its highest ranking in program history. The Red Storm owns victories over three teams ranking in the Top 10 in the nation at the time, including previous No. 1 Notre Dame March 30. A fifth-straight win was not to be.
“It was huge,” McArdle said of the team’s strong play of late. “We have never been here before. We embraced it and we were working hard, but today it didn’t pay off.”
Notes: Goalie Jeff Lowman became St. John’s’ all-time leader in saves with a stop early in the second quarter.
The senior has 587 for his career to pass Joe Weingart (1983-86).
