SALISBURY, Md. -- Craig Rhodey's goal with 6:17 remaining broke a 9-9 tie and lifted top-ranked Salisbury State to a 10-9 victory over Washington and Lee in the NCAA Tournament Semifinal on Sunday in Salisbury, Md.
The game featured eight ties, with neither team leading by more than two goals throughout the contest.
Salisbury (17-1) opened the scoring with 7:24 remaining in the first quarter as Tim Parks scored an unassisted goal that was originally stopped by W&L junior goalie Wes Hays (Towson, Md./Loyola). However, Hays was unable to control the rebound and inadvertantly kicked the ball into the net.
The Generals (16-2) responded with 6:37 remaining in the period as junior midfielder Pope Hackney (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's) notched an unassisted tally, one of three goals on the day, to tie the game at 1-1. W&L then assumed a 2-1 lead with 5:54 remaining in the first as senior attackman Colin Dougherty (Timonium, Md./Loyola) scored off an assist from junior attackman Matt Dugan (Rockaway, N.J./Mountain Lakes).
The Sea Gulls again tied the score, this time at 2-2 with 4:28 left in the first, as Joe High scored off an assist by Chris Turner.
However, the Generals again forged ahead as Hackney scored another unassisted tally with 2:25 remaining in the first quarter. It was the last lead the Generals would hold. The two teams headed into halftime tied at 5-5.
The game remained nip-and-tuck throughout the final two quarters with Salisbury opening a 9-7 advantage with 4:03 remaining in the third quarter. W&L again fought back to tie the game as Dugan brought the Generals to within 9-8 with 56 seconds left in the third and senior attackman Chris Brown (Towson, Md./Towson) scored off an assist from Dougherty with 9:53 remaining to knot the score at 9-9.
Following Rhodey's goal, the Generals had several opportunities to again tie the score, the best coming with 56 seconds remaining in the game when Salisbury received a 30-second penalty for a push. W&L sent several shots at the cage, the last coming with one second remaining, but could not find the net.
W&L was led offensively by Dougherty, Dugan, Hackney, and Brown. Hackney posted three goals, while Dugan tallied one goal and two assists, Dougherty notched two goals and an assist, and Brown totaled two goals and an assist. Dugan's three points gave him 87 on the season, a new W&L record. He ends the season just seven points shy of the W&L career scoring record. Dougherty finished his career with 224 career points, fourth all-time.
Hays was spectacular in goal, notching 16 saves, many coming from point-blank range.
Salisbury was led by High, who had three goals, and Turner, who posted two goals and an assist.
The Generals ended their season with a school-record 16 wins. Salisbury advances to the Division III National Championship contest where it will face Middlebury College.
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