BU Beats Colgate in 3OT Thriller; Navy Holds Off Loyola

Nobody does May Madness like the Patriot League — even if technically it’s still April.

One day won’t deny that Boston University and Colgate delivered one of the most memorable games of the 2024 college men’s lacrosse season Tuesday night.

A 2-hour-and-46-minute marathon ended with Brenden Kelly sinking the game-winning goal in triple overtime, as BU advanced to the Patriot League semifinals with an 18-17 victory at Nickerson Field.

It was the second meeting in four days between the teams. The Terriers erased an eight-goal deficit to deny the Raiders the conference’s No. 1 seed and a crucial bye with a 13-12 win on Friday.

Neither team led by more than two goals in this shootout, however. Reigning USA Lacrosse Player of the Week Louis Perfetto paced BU with four goals and five assists. He scored 13 seconds into the game, a sign of things to come.

BU and Colgate both deployed 10-man rides to inject tempo and tumult into the game. It was tied at 14 after three quarters, with a goal scored every minute and a half.

It got tighter in the fourth quarter — and Terriers goalie Will Barnes got hot. He made six saves in the final 15 minutes of regulation as the game went to overtime tied at 17.

Then it went to double overtime after a pair of defensive interceptions and a would-be goal by Colgate’s Hunter Drouin was ruled a crease violation.

Barnes made three saves in the second overtime to keep the game tied. He finished with 16 saves.

Perfetto fed Kelly for the game winner with 2:13 left in triple overtime, Kelly’s fourth goal of the game.

The Terriers and Raiders combined for 106 shots, 45 turnovers and 35 goals.

“We knew it was going to be a battle,” BU coach Ryan Polley said on ESPN+. “The game Friday night, [Colgate] goes up 10-2 and then we made the run 11-2. Our focus all week was on our compete level and how we played — and just staying loose.”

Fourth-seeded BU will meet top-seeded Army in the Patriot League semifinals Friday, after which third-seeded Navy plays second-seeded Lehigh. The Midshipmen defeated Loyola 12-10 in the other quarterfinal Tuesday.

“We’re excited to advance to West Point,” Polley said. “I know the boys will be ready.”

Navy Holds Off Loyola

Navy’s first midfield of Tommy Hovivian, Dane Swanson and Max Hewitt combined for 10 points and faceoff specialist Zach Hayashi went 18-for-26 to lead the Midshipmen to a 12-10 win over Loyola at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Navy won despite committing 23 turnovers, as the Greyhounds’ 16 caused turnovers were their most since a 2014 win over Towson.

It wasn’t enough to overcome their possession disadvantage, however. Making matters more difficult, Navy goalie Dan Daly made 18 saves, including six in the fourth quarter.

Loyola got off 15 shots in the final frame and really turned on the pressure late. The Midshipmen countered every time. Each team scored three times in the manic final minutes.

Cleveland State Gets First Postseason Win

Appearing in its first-ever postseason game, Cleveland State made the most of it. The Vikings defeated Bellarmine 15-12 to advance to the ASUN semifinals and set a program record with their ninth win of the season.

Wyatt Robertson led the way with five goals and three assists.

Fifth-seeded Cleveland State will play top-seeded Utah in the first semifinal Friday in Colorado Springs, followed by third-seeded Jacksonville against second-seeded Air Force.

Red-hot Jacksonville won its sixth straight game, defeating Robert Morris 17-12. Jacob Greiner had two goals and five assists.