Long’s Game-Winner Propels Cobras Past Pioneers

Photo by Stan Barnhill
Photo by Stan Barnhill

GREENEVILLE, TENN – Sophomore Brooks Long found the back of the net two minutes into overtime to give the Coker College men's lacrosse team a 11-10 overtime win over the Tusculum College Pioneers in a South Atlantic Conference road matchup.

Both teams scored two goals in the opening quarter, Shane Wilson scored first with three minutes left in the first. Rylee Marsh tied things up a 2-2 when he scored with two seconds left on the clock.

Wilson opened up the second quarter with his second goal of the afternoon, giving Coker a 3-2 lead. After back-to-back goals by Tusculum, the Cobras closed out the half on a 3-0 run, thanks to two goals by Marsh and one goal by Long. At the half, the Cobras led 6-4.

The Pioneers outscored the Navy and Gold 4-2 in the third quarter, goals by Mike Martiello and Adam Zinsmeister left the game tied at 8-8 going into the final 15 minutes.

Martiello scored two unassisted goals in the quarter, matching the two goals scored by Tusculum to force overtime, as the two teams were tied at 10-10.

After winning the faceoff to start the overtime period, Coker called a timeout. Coming out of the timeout, the Cobras struck in their first offensive set, when Long found the twine to give Coker the 11-10 overtime win.

Martiello scored three goals and three assists. His six-point afternoon gave him 58 points on the season, which is a Coker single-season record. Marsh finished the afternoon with three goals and one assist. Wilson and Long each scored two goals, while Zinsmeister scored one.

Anthony Malik made eight saves in the cage. The Cobras will be back in action on Saturday (Apr. 16) to take on Queens University of Charlotte in a SAC matchup. Opening faceoff is set for 8 p.m.