ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Bellarmine lacrosse senior midfielder John Kirk (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) scored the game-winner 35 seconds into the overtime, lifting Bellarmine (4-1) to its fourth consecutive victory, 8-7 over Manhattan (1-2). The Knights have already eclipsed last year's win total, just five games into their 2008 campaign.

Saturday's game was played at Lindenwood University in St. Louis, Mo. in honor of late DeSmet Jesuit High School lacrosse coach Mike Sennet, who passed away last season. Bellarmine senior Tim Hessel (St. Louis, Mo.) and freshman Ryan Fowler (St. Louis, Mo.) played under coach Sennet at DeSmet Jesuit.

The teams went back and forth in a game that featured six ties and four lead changes. Manhattan sophomore Salvatore Spatarella's second goal of the game put the Jaspers up 6-5 with 11:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. Bellarmine midfielder Jarrett Davis (Port Moody, B.C) answered at the 8:26 mark, swinging momentum back to the Knights. Teammate Adam Gardner (Toronto, Ontario) scored his team leading ninth goal of the season with 6:12 left in the fourth, giving the Knights a 7-6 lead.

Manhattan had one final chance with under than a minute remaining after picking up a loose ball deep in their own territory. Senior Brian Wynne ripped a shot past Bellarmine cage-minder Justin Burks (San Diego, Calif.) with 31 seconds left in the game, forcing overtime.

Junior Bobby Snider (Calgary, Alberta) won a critical face-off to start the extra frame, giving the Knights the first crack in overtime. Snider dominated face-offs Saturday, winning 18-of-19 attempts, the second most in a single game in school history.

Head coach Jack McGetrick called a quick timeout after gaining possession to set up the game-winner. Following the stoppage in play, Kirk found a seam in the Jaspers defense and whipped the ball past goalie John Geagan, lifting the Knights to their first victory away from Owsley B. Frazier Stadium this season.

Bellarmine returns home March 15 for a game against Presbyterian College at 1:00 pm. The Knights will be looking for their fifth straight win, a feat they have not accomplished since the inaugural 2005 season.

2008-03-08