Williamsburg, KY – Dylan Crouch scored the golden goal with 1:38 remaining in the first OT to push the fourth-ranked UC men's lacrosse team to victory in their season-opener against (RV) Siena Heights Saturday night at the UC Lacrosse Complex.

The game got off to a hot start for the Patriots as freshman Dawson Coltran scored the first goal of the season and the first of his career to give UC the 1-0 lead, with 12:13 remaining in the first quarter. The Saints were quick to respond, scoring less than two minutes later off a shot from Garnett Potter to tie the game. Siena Heights continued their scoring run netting three straight goals to give the Saints a 4-1 lead at the end of the first period.

Cumberlands opened the second quarter looking to cut the deficit as Dalton Smith and Preston Brooks recorded shots on goal in the first thirty seconds. In the same possession, Holden Lowes recovered a loose ball that he was able to convert into a goal to shrink the Saints lead to 4-2, 13:27 before half. Patriots followed that up with another goal in the ensuing possession as Lowes connected with Crouch, making it a one-goal game. As the half came to a close, Will Settle came up with a big save before clearing the ball upfield to Christian Vanover in the Patriots' attacking zone. With three seconds on the clock, Vanover fired a shot past SHU's Alex McCarthy to even the score 4-4 at half.

Siena Heights scored back-to-back goals to start the second half, however, the Patriots responded as Lowes sent a low shot into the net for a goal, cutting the score to 6-5 with 7:17 remaining. The two teams traded goals before the Saints scored again as time ran out to make it 8-6 headed into the fourth quarter.

SHU dominated possession to open the fourth, recording three shots on goal before finally converting one, increasing their lead to 9-6. Consecutive saves by Settle gave Cumberlands the momentum they needed to go on a scoring run in the final seven minutes. Right out of a timeout, the Patriots netted three straight goals off the sticks of Smith and Lowes to tie the game at 9-9. Lowes scooped up the next face-off, but a turnover caused by Gallaher gave the Saints possession to retake the lead with 2:16 remaining. Needing a goal, Vanover found Thomas Fogarty who sent in a feed to Lowes for the equalizer with 1:48 remaining forcing overtime.

Siena Heights won the opening faceoff of overtime, but a clutch save by Settle kept the Patriots alive. The two teams traded turnovers until a clear from Settle to Taylor Simms moved the ball upfield to Cumberlands' attacking end. With 1:51 to go, Vanover rounded the crease and fired a shot which ricocheted off the Saints' goalie. In the right position at the right time, Crouch scooped up the rebound and immediately dropped it into the back of the net to score the game-winning goal in overtime.

The Patriots notch their first win of the season in exciting fashion as Lowes scored five goals in his Cumberlands debut. Crouch added a pair of goals and an assist in the win to move to second in program history for career points with 95.

The Patriots get back to the field on February 29 when they host a top-ten matchup against seventh-ranked Keiser. Face-off is slated for 11am. Live video will be available here, while live stats will be available here.

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