NEW LONDON, Conn. - Benson Offit (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) found no better time for his third goal of the season than the closing seconds of overtime in Emerson's game against Coast Guard on Saturday afternoon. The game was tied at 16 for most of the period until Offit was assisted on the game-winner by Birk Swan (Palos Verdes, Calif.) with 28 seconds left to play.

The score was Offit's only goal of the match, while Swan led the Lions with eight points thanks to a six-goal, two-assist performance. Jack Burns (Clarksville, Md.) had four goals and two assists and Malcolm McGrath (Ridgefield, Conn.) made nine saves in goals.

Emerson improves to 7-8 (2-4 NEWMAC), while the Bears fall to 2-10 (1-5 NEWMAC).

GAME SUMMARY
The game was tied at four after the first quarter, but Coast Guard outscored Emerson 6-4 in the second quarter to take a 10-8 lead heading into halftime.

The Bears extended their lead to 12-8 with two goals in the first minute of the third quarter. The Lions responded by outscoring their hosts 5-1 until the final minute of the quarter, tying the game at 13 with 1:44 remaining on an unassisted goal by Nicholas Fulgione (North Andover, Mass.). However, a Coast Guard goal with 15 seconds left by Ryan Hunter (Bethesda, Md.), assisted by Eric Key, put the Bears back up one heading into the fourth quarter.

Swan would tie the game back up on an unassisted goal with 10:16 remaining, but the Coast Guard reclaimed their lead just over a minute later on another goal by Hunter with 9:12 remaining, this time assisted by Ian Feely (Spring Branch, Tex.). Swan would even the score again at 15 on another unassisted goal with 3:39 left, and Burns put Emerson up one with 2:10 remaining and Jack O'Rourke (Palisades, Calif.) getting credit for the assist.

The Bears would knot the score at 16 in the final seconds of regulation, as Jake Chambers scored with 15 seconds remaining off an assist from Jamison Wildt. Both teams were held scoreless for the majority of overtime before Offit scored his game-winner while the Lions were in a player-up situation.

Coast Guard outshot Emerson 45-36 but lost the turnover battle 21-16. The Lions also outperformed their hosts on clear attempts, going a season-high 25-for-28 while the Bears went 19-for-23. Emerson also had 19 extra player opportunities but only scored on four, while Coast Guard went 0-for-2 on their extra player opportunities.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Malcolm McGrath - 63:32 MP, 9 Saves
Birk Swan - 6 Goals, 2 Assists, CT
Jack Burns - 4 Goals, 2 Assists
Nicholas Fulgione - 2 Goals, 2 Assists
Jack O'Rourke - Goal, 2 Assists, CT

NEXT UP
Men's lacrosse hosts conference rivals Clark next Saturday to wrap up their regular season, with the game starting at 1 p.m. The Cougars are 1-5 against NEWMAC opponents this season, carrying a league-worst -51 goal differential into the matchup.