Bison open season with double-overtime win against Heidelberg, 10-9

Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director

BETHANY, W.Va. (Feb. 25) – Junior Christopher Isaacs (Norwalk, Conn/Brien McMahon) delivered the "golden goal" in the second overtime period, as the Bison earned a 10-9 win over Heidelberg in the season-opener Saturday afternoon at Bison Stadium.

The Bethany College men's lacrosse team jumps out to 1-0 this season, while the Student Princes, members of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), fall to 0-1 overall.

The two teams were even at 8-8 heading into the final minute of the fourth quarter. Heidelberg took the lead with 58 seconds remaining on a goal, but a clean win on the ensuing faceoff by junior Bryan Uth (Hedgesville, W.Va./Hedgesville) gave the Bison an opportunity to knot the score up.

Senior Tyler Peck (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) found an opening in front of the net and buried the game-tying goal with 25 seconds left in regulation off of a pass from senior Jake Holland (Canton, Ohio/Jackson), sending the game into overtime.

After a scoreless first overtime period, Isaacs snuck in front of the Heidelberg goalie and put the ball into the back of the net 27 seconds into the second overtime to give the Bison a season-opening victory.

Sophomore Anthony Hellias (Erie, Pa./McDowell) led the team with three goals, while Peck chipped in a pair in the win. Holland was the leading assist man for Bethany with six on the day.

Senior goalie Sean Rhodes (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) finished the evening with 13 saves on 22 shots on goal, while Uth was the top draw man for the Bison, winning 14-of-18 face offs.

Heidelberg opened the scoring up four minutes into the match and led 2-1 after 10 minutes. The Green & White followed with four-straight markers to propel them to a 5-2 lead with 10:59 remaining in the second quarter, the team's largest lead of the afternoon.

The Student Princes responded with a trio of goals to even the score at 5-5 heading into halftime. Bethany rebuilt its lead to 7-5 following goals by Holland and Peck, but Heidelberg rallied back once again. The Student Princes netted three-straight goals and took an 8-7 lead with 7:14 remaining in the fourth quarter, before a Helias goal with the man-advantage tied the game at 8-8 with under six minutes to play.

Heidelberg was led by Nick Selfridge, who scored a game-best five goals.

The Bison have the week off before they host Oglethorpe (Georgia) on Saturday, March 4 at Bison Stadium in a non-conference match at 1 p.m.