SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--It was a great day for a lacrosse game and both teams provided excellent entertainment for those watching.  Westminster's men's lacrosse team (8-7, 4-4 RMAC) forced #10 Colorado Mesa (15-2, 8-0 RMAC)  to overtime before conceding the game deciding goal.

Westminster played aggressive and without fear.  Both defense and offense played well showing great focus, determination and resilience.  Westminster recorded a .611 shot on goal percentage, averaged 3.273 shots per goal, caused 12 turnovers and goalie Conner McFarlane faced 45 shots and made 15 saves.  The Mavericks recorded a .3.75 shot on goal percentage, caused five turnovers and their goalie faced 36 shots and made 11 saves.

The game felt like two heavy weight fighters exchanging blows and refusing to fall down.  It only took two and a half minutes and Mesa was up three goals.  Westminster scored twice, reducing the visitor's lead to one, only to give up a goal following the face off.  Mesa scored one more goal and Westminster scored two and finished the first quarter down by one, 4-5.

A lot transpired in the second quarter.  The game was tied three times and the lead changed hands twice.  Both goalies were called into action at the beginning of the second quarter.  Mesa's goalie, Remi Reeves, blocked two shots from Thomas Sarjeant and McFarlane denied Mesa's attace with a save.  Westminster successfully cleared the ball and Cole Flinders scored and tied the game for the first time.  Mesa won the face off and scored to immediately regain the lead.  Westminster scored the next three goals to take its first lead of the game, 8-6.  The Mavericks increased the pressure and finished the quarter with six shots, scoring twice, and tied the score at 8-8 to end the half.

Both teams hunkered in during the third quarter making it difficult for either team to get to goal.  Both teams took eight shots with a total of six on goal, five saves, nine turnovers, nine clearances, and 14 ground balls.  With 5:03 minutes remaining in the quarter, Mesa gathered a Westminster shot off the post and got out on a fast break and scored the lone goal of the quarter.

Just past one minute into the fourth quarter, Sarjeant scored to tie the game at 9.  The Mavericks scored twice to regain the lead and increase it to two, 11-9.   McFarlance collected a ground ball from a turnover caused by Harrison Nye.  Sarjeant scored for the second time in the quarter, keeping hope alive for the Griffins.  Troy Vance caused a turnover at the midfield line with 3:44 left in the quarter.  Vance picked up the ground ball and made a run towards goal, split two defenders and fired a shot past Mesa's keeper to tie the game at 11.  Westmisnter was denied once by Reeves and McFarlance turned the Mavericks away three times as regulation ended and the teams prepared for overtime.

Both keepers came up with a save early in overtime.  Mesa scored with 1:25 remaining and defeated Westminster, 12-11.

Head Coach Mason Goodhand shared some thoughts about the game and the team afterwards.

"The seniors showed their experience and leadership to the underclassmen.  They showed maturity, stability and a never quit attitude."

"We have continued to get better every day and with every game."

"We played a tough schedule and lost to some very good teams.  The way we acted to those defeats has forged and seasoned our attitudes and we believe we can compete with the best in the conference and win the championship next weekend."

Six Griffins shared the lead for points.  Sarjeant, Ezra Schofield and Bridger Fisher each scored two goals.  Lane Kadish, Christian Pompoco and Vance all scored once and assisted once.  

Kolton Atkinson and Cole Flinders each scored once and Blake Gross and Nick Marcy both assisted one goal.  

Harrison Nye led the defense with five caused turnovers and collected three ground balls.  Vance  caused two turnovers and gathered two grond balls.  Kyle Williams picked up four ground balls and caused one turnover.

Chase Flinders, Grant Phillips and Braeden Pelly each recorded a caused turnover.  Flinders and Phillips collected two ground balls each and Pelly gathered one.

Conner McFarlane faced 45 shots and made 15 saves.  He also picked up three ground balls.

Westminster finished third in the RMAC and will face Rockhurst in the semi-final of the RMAC Championship on May 4.  The tournament will be hosted by Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, Colo.