LTU lacrosse players celebrate a goal during a game last spring.

Men’s lacrosse is one of Lawrence Technological University’s new varsity sports since the school joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in 2011. LTU men’s lacrosse team opened its inaugural season with an 8-7 overtime win at Carnegie Mellon University on March 2. Sophomore midfielder Justin Clark (Clinton Twp., MI) made history for the Blue Devils by scoring

Men’s lacrosse is one of Lawrence Technological University’s new varsity sports since the school joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in 2011. LTU men’s lacrosse team opened its inaugural season with an 8-7 overtime win at Carnegie Mellon University on March 2. Sophomore midfielder Justin Clark (Clinton Twp., MI) made history for the Blue Devils by scoring the very first and the game-winning goals.

CMU got on the board first with two goals in the first quarter. Then Clark answered back with an unassisted bounce shot to score for LTU. The Tartans scored three more goals in the second quarter but LTU fought back with a goal by junior attackman Bryan Burnham (Rochester Hills, MI) assisted by junior midfielder Justin Killewald (St. Clair, MI). Freshman midfielder Nicholas Folk (Flagler Palms, FL) scored another goal for LTU, bringing the halftime score to 5-3.

LTU struck first in the third quarter with a ripping shot to the top corner of the goal net by Burnham. Clark also scored his second goal of the game assisted by sophomore midfielder Adam Franzel (Romeo, MI). However, CMU maintained the lead by scoring its sixth goal.

LTU’s senior face-off specialist Charlie Harris (Monroe, MI) won the face-off to start the fourth quarter with the score at 6-5. Then LTU lost the ball resulting in a ground ball war during which Clark scooped up the ball and made a quick dodge to score his third goal, tying the game 6-6.

Midway through the quarter the Tartans regained the lead by taking advantage of an LTU penalty and scoring a man-up goal. Then with 30 seconds left in regulation play, LTU’s sophomore attackman Matt Scarchilli came from behind the goal and passed to Burnham who then ripped another shot past the CMU goalie to re-tie the game, 7-7, with 18 seconds remaining.

The Tartans won the overtime face-off and then lost the ball. Blue Devil freshman defenseman Joey Yudasz (Waterford, MI) was able to scoop up the ball and pass it to Folk, who then ran a sweep motion pass finding Clark on the crease of CMU’s goal. Clark then threw another bounce shot into the net to win the game.

Freshman goaltender Adam Gohl (Clarkston, MI) kept the Blue Devils in the game by making eight saves in the first half and ending the game with a total of 14.

“After the first-half, first-game jitters, the players started to listen and play more controlled and fundamentally,” said Blue Devils’ Head Coach Kevin Riley. “They fought back from behind by two goals in the fourth quarter. They now know they can win if they play hard. An overtime win shows they are starting to believe in themselves and the program. I saw many good things and many things we need to improve upon.It’s a long season, and we can only get better.”

The Blue Devils next game will be at Judson College in Elgin, IL, on March 9. The first home game will be March 30 versus Siena Heights University.