Catawba Gets Late Goal to Top Lenoir-Rhyne

SALISBURY, NC -- Freshman Adam Hebert (Charlotte, NC/Charlotte Catholic HS) scored with 1:42 left as host Catawba defeated visiting Lenoir-Rhyne 10-9 in Deep South Conference action on Friday night at Shuford Stadium. The Catawba Indians improve to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the DSC, while the Bears fell to 2-7 and 0-3.

The teams had to endure an hour and 16 minute weather delay with about 10 minutes remaining and the game tied 7-7. When play resumed Catawba scored first on a tally by Braden Artem (Acton, Ontario, CANADA/Christ the King HS) with 9:01 remaining.

Lenoir-Rhyne took the lead with a pair of goals in a span of 30 seconds with just under five minutes left. Edward Guerin (Jupiter, FL) tied it at the 5:24 mark, while Ned Kaish (Atlanta, GA) put the Bears on top with 4:53 to go.

Catawba tied the game just 32 seconds later when Artem found Steven Ridolfo (Charlotte, NC/Providence HS/Gettysburg) with 4:21 left. Inside two minutes, Hebert bounced a high shot that bounced off a helmet into the goal with 1:42 remaining. Michael Pecchia (Coqiutlam, BC, CANADA/Heritage Woods HS) stopped a final L-R shot with 42 seconds left and the Indians ran out the clock.

Ridolfo had four goals and an assist for Catawba, while Artem added three goals and a helper. Pecchia picked up 10 saves. Kaish led Lenoir-Rhyne with three goals. Alex Squires (Lawrenceville, GA) recorded 18 saves for the Bears.

Catawba held a 53-31 edge in shots and had a 44-31 advantage in ground balls. Catawba also won 15 of 23 face-offs with Daniel Rew (Forest Hill, MD/Bel Air HS) winning 13 of 15.

The game went back-and-forth before the delay. Catawba had scored the opening two goals, but the Bears came right back with three straight to take the lead after one quarter at 3-2. The Indians put in two tallies to regain the edge and went to the half up 5-4.

Catawba had a pair of man-up goals in the third quarter, but Lenoir-Rhyne matched those to stay within a goal. The Bears tied it at the 13:35 mark of the fourth, just about four minutes before the weather delay.

2012-03-17