Pontrello scores late to push Loyola (Md.) past Hoyas NCAA.com

CHAMPS

PRESENTED BY WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Nikko Pontrello scored his third goal of the game with 51.4 seconds remaining in regulation, and David Manning had a caused turnover on the defensive end with less than seven seconds left to seal a 10-9 win for No. 2 Loyola (Md.). Pontrello tied the game with his second goal of the night with 7:55 left, and with a 30-second warning on, he dodged from behind the crease and rolled back toward the goal, sticking a low shot past Hoyas goalkeeper Jake Haley for the winner. The Greyhounds (7-1 overall) overcame a night when Georgetown won 15-of-22 faceoffs and the Hoyas picked up four more ground balls, 30-26. Georgetown (3-5) scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter to take a 9-8 lead when Bo Stafford fed a cross-crease pass to Reilly O'Connor, and O'Connor scored with 11:19 left. O'Connor's goal game just eight seconds after Devon Lewis created the game's sixth tie with his second of the night. Georgetown had another possession after O'Connor's goal, but Joe Fletcher caused a turnover on the defensive side for the Greyhounds. Haley, however, made a save on a Pat Laconi shot in transition to get the ball back for the Hoyas. In settled offense, Georgetown's Peter Conley had his shot blocked by a Loyola defender, and Ryan Fournier came up with the ground ball for the Greyhounds, starting a transition run. The ball was worked to Ward on the high left side, and he found Pontrello rolling from behind the cage. Pontrello danced along the crease and shot-faked Haley for the goal at 7:55 to tied the game at 9-9. Loyola earned possession after Pontrello's goal via a faceoff violation by the Hoyas, but Haley made a save on a Brian Sherlock shot. After a Georgetown turnover, he came up with another save - he finished with 11 - on Jeff Chase's attempt, getting the Hoyas another opportunity regain the lead. Laconi trail-checked Charles McCormick to give Loyola the ball back, but after a Greyhounds' timeout, a turnover put Georgetown back on offense. Stafford dodged free of his defender on the right side, but Jack Runkel was there to save his shot attempt at 2:19, preserving the tie for the Greyhounds and setting up the possession that led to Pontrello's game-winner.