EDWARDSVILLE, Pa.- Since the MAC Freedom began sponsoring Men's Lacrosse in 2012, Eastern University Men's Lacrosse had never trailed by six goals in a league game. So when the Eagles went down 6-0 at Wilkes with 12:51 left in the first half, they were in uncharted waters. Mark Buannic scored twice to start the rally and added his third 2:39 into overtime to complete the rally in a 10-9 overtime win. 

How It Happened:
The first quarter was as bad as it could get for the Eagles. Though they had a 12-10 edge in shots and won 3-of-5 face-offs, the Eagles had all five shots on goals saved, took three penalties, and had four turnovers. The Colonels scored on four of their six shots on goal to build a 4-0 lead after one quarter. The fourth goal came with six seconds to play in the frame.

As bad as the first quarter was, the opening two minutes of the second, were no better. The Eagles lost two face-offs and gave up two goals on two shots.

Momentum began to change ona  Zach Bauer face-off win. The Eagles missed wide on several shots before Buannic finally found the range for his 18th of the year. The big senior had missed nearly two weeks with injury and had not scored since putting up five goals in Eastern's win over Widener.

Buannic put in his second less than two minutes later. The Colonels answered near the midpoint of the second quarter to build the edge back to five goals at 7-2.  The Eagles got goals out of the midfield from Drew Johnson, Hassan Mackey, and Kyle Fanelli to close the gap going to halftime. Faneilli's unassisted tally came after a good ride by the Eastern defense. He put a away a bounce shot after a brilliant spinning move on goal-line-extended with only 13 seconds left in the half.

Wilkes had only four shots and four shots on goal in the second period.

The Colonels (7-5, 1-2 MAC Freedom) scored on the opening possession of the third and settled in to defend their lead. The three-goal edge stood until Fanelli scored with 6:43 to play inf the third to start the critical burst of the game. After losing the face-off after Fanelli's goal, Nate Hawkins popped a ball free to start a transition opportunity. Sam Emig buried a long-range effort off a Drew Johnson pass to bring the Eagles within a goal.

After Bauer won the next face-off, he flipped the ball forward to Chris Durning. The close defenseman who plays on the wing on face-offs took three steps with the ball and fired an overhand shot  for his first goal of the year. The Eagles claimed their first lead of the match two minutes later on a shot from distance by Mackey.

The Colonels answered with a goal off the ensuing face-off to tie the game within a minute.

The game remained tied at nine for the last 18 minutes of regulation and the first two minutes of overtime. Brett McDonald made two critical saves in the fourth to help the game to overtime. WIlkes goalkeeper Carter Whittemore made seven of his 19 saves in the fourth quarter.

Eastern had the first chance of overtime when Antonio Yeoman hit the left post on on a low shot from distance one minute in. A turnover by the Eagles gave the Colonels a chance to attack. After a Wilkes timeout, Cole Millard jarred a ball loose and Jimmy Kurnik was on the spot to pick up a critical ground ball. He ran the clear and the Eagles set up a play for the win. Buannic took a pass from behind the goal and bulled his way up the field for a right-handed shot to the top of the goal.

Coach Wallace Says;
"This was another resilient comeback. We started way too slowly, then switched up our defense and held them to two goals rest of way. Our second line midfield was very consistent getting us going and Bauer came up big  when we needed it. Our defensive midfielders did a good job clearing the ball. Having Mark back healthy helped us today. He did what seniors are supposed to do. We will need to fix the slow starts."

Up Next:
The Eagles continue in MAC Freedom play with a home game against King's on Saturday. King's beat Delaware Valley 12-6 tonight.