Love's 6 Goals Help Men's Lacrosse Advance to ECC Championship Game

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Lacrosse team defeated No. 3 seed Roberts Wesleyan in their ECC semifinal game at home on Wednesday afternoon by a score of 15-7.

After winning the initial faceoff, the Redhawks got on the board within the first few seconds of the game. The Bobcats answered back, as juniors Ryan Tyler and Landon Bruce scooped up groundballs, the latter passing it to graduate Justin Hulse who put up a solo goal at 1-1. Roberts Wesleyan, a near three minutes later, took the lead 2-1 after graduate Chase Buckwalter had hit the post. Soon after junior Nate Jones made his second save of the afternoon, a high shot by Buckwalter was chased out of bounds by senior Austin Sipes, who then fed senior Tyler Dooley for the equalizer 2-2. A Bobcat turnover was followed by the Redhawks scoring, giving them a 3-2 edge with under five to play. Moments later, a forced turnover caused by Buckwalter led to a goal for graduate Bubba Love from classmate Owen McCallum for another tie at 3-3. Just before the period ended and after another pair of FSU turnovers, Roberts Wesleyan put two more away to gain a two-goal lead going into the second.

Back-to-back goals from Frostburg, scored by Love and Dooley tied the game at five apiece within the first four minutes of the second. Roughly two minutes later, RWU found a pass to goal at back of the net, which was answered by a Buckwalter to McCallum passing back-and-forth before the latter scored from the former at 6-6. The Redhawks took possession of the ball after another Bobcat turnover, resulting a shot on goal which was saved by Jones to preserve the tie score. Frostburg earned a successful clear, then with the ball in McCallum's stick, he found Buckwalter for FSU's first lead of the game at 7-6. On a faceoff violation, FSU was awarded control, which after a couple missed shots, Sipes hit Love for a low corner shot to go into halftime up 8-6.

Having turned the tide in the second quarter, the Bobcats were dominant in the third, outscoring RWU 4-0 in the frame. Jones started play just a couple seconds in with an early save, then senior Luke McCullough kickstarted Frostburg's offensive possession with a CT. The groundball was picked up by junior Seamus Kearney, which eventually ended up in the stick of McCallum, who fed Buckwalter for the finish up 9-6. The seven minutes that followed were uneventful for each team, as FSU controlled the majority of possession but couldn't capitalize. In the final five minutes of play, Love put the tenth and eleventh goals in the net, taking control of the offense to go up 11-6. The first occurred after freshman Luke Roach caused a turnover, picked up the ball, and found Love wide open on the backside, then the second came as a result of a heads-up play, with the FSU No. 28 the first to react to a missed shot, picking up and firing home. On a man-up opportunity with a few seconds left, Buckwalter advanced FSU's score to a 12-6 advantage, with Sipes the provider at the end of three.

It took six minutes for action to commence in the fourth, as the Redhawks couldn't get any of their opening five shots on target. An RWU turnover was picked up by Hulse, who assisted McCallum for goal 13 on the day. A faceoff win within the next minute by FSU put the ball in the stick of junior Tristan Anderson, who started the offense. Sipes with the ball, behind the net, fed Love for another score, which tied him with his brother, Spenser Love, as the all-time Frostburg career goal scorer at 131 goals. The Redhawks earned possession as the Bobcats were called for a faceoff violation, but could only hit the post, followed by an offside penalty with Kearney steaming down the field. FSU capitalized on the man-up, as Roach powered FSU's final goal in from a great Buckwalter pass. RWU ended up with the final goal of the contest, a solo shot with just under five remaining, as Love, fittingly, was able to hold onto the ball for the final minute of action, with the Bobcats coming out ahead 15-7. 

Love finished with a game-high six goals, followed by Buckwalter with three, McCallum and Dooley with two and Roach and Hulse each with one. Sipes ended with five assists, while Jones had six total saves and McCullough led the defenive effort with three caused turnovers and four groundballs. 

With the conclusion of today's semifinal matchup Frostburg moves to an overall record of 13-3, while Roberts Wesleyan ends their season at 10-6. FSU next travels to Dobbs Ferry, NY to take on top seed Mercy on Saturday, May 4 at 11 am in a repeat of the previous two ECC Tournament Championship games. For more information visit frostburgsports.com.