Gambier, Ohio – After a 24-hour weather delay, the Oberlin College men's lacrosse team battled the Kenyon Owls to triple-overtime on Thursday evening. Although the Crimson and Gold fell 11-10, the Yeomen battled back in one of the most thrilling games of the season. With just one game left, the Yeomen sit at 10-6 (5-2) on the year.
 
Jacob Starcke led the team with three goals and one assist in the matchup, highlighted by the game-tying goal in the final second of the fourth quarter. Asher Friedman also amassed four points, split evenly between goals and assists. Sophomore duo Cooper Zancosky and Nicholas Cuda added a pair of goals each, while Zancosky tacked on an assist.
 
Joe Chai led the midfield with four caused turnovers, followed by Cooper Rand's two CTOs. Evan Sardina scooped nine ground balls, all coming from the face-off.
 
Right away, the Yeomen found their rhythm, with a Chai CTO leading to a ground ball from Rand, Starcke put Oberlin on the board. Kenyon responded minutes later, but the Crimson and Gold went 1-2-3 to take a 4-1 lead. Broken up by a quick Owls response, Zancosky retook the lead with 7:19 remaining in the half.
 
With just over two minutes remaining, the Owls capitalized on an Oberlin penalty to score an extra-man goal. Up 6-5 at the halftime break, the weather broke open and forced a delay of game. As the lightning picked up the two teams decided to return to their game the following day.
 
Returning to Kenyon on Thursday, the Yeomen got off to a sluggish start, letting up a pair of goals from the Owls. Down 8-5, Starcke scored a rocket in the final second to mount the comeback. Cuda tallied back-to-back goals, scoring the equalizer after Nolan Grieshaber scooped a critical ground ball at the 11:07 mark. Minutes later, Chai came up with a loose ball after the face-off. The junior passed it off to Friedman who scored the Yeomen's fourth-straight goal to take a 9-8 lead.
 
Kenyon responded with a pair of goals, giving Oberlin just 68 seconds to find the equalizer. Both Zancosky and Ryan Murphy took shots on goal, but neither were able to connect with net. With nine seconds remaining, Head Coach Ryan Polak took a timeout to reset with the game on the line. Coming out of the huddle with a play in mind, Murphy put the ball in the hands of the programs all-time leading goalscorer, Starcke. A shot from 15-yards out hit the upper corner of the net and forced overtime in the instant classic.
 
The two North Coast foes were deadlocked through the first overtime period, with Oberlin's Grieshaber making a pair of impressive saves to keep the Yeomen alive. Sardina won the face-off in the second overtime, clearing way for consecutive shots from Starcke. Despite neither connecting, Oberlin and Kenyon headed into a third extra period. After a clear attempt failed to start 3OT, the Owls sent a long pass downfield for a 1v1 between Gavin Gumucio and Grieshaber. Facing a fastbreak without defense, the Yeomen were unable to slow the shot, and Kenyon clinched the thrilling victory.
 
The Crimson and Gold look ahead to their final game of the regular season on Saturday, April 25 when they celebrate their graduating seniors. Hosting Wabash for the special day, Senior Day festivities are slated to begin at 12:45 p.m., with the game following at 1 p.m.
 
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