Martiello’s Game-Winning Overtime Goal Caps Off Comeback Over Brevard

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College men's lacrosse team picked up a 12-11 overtime win over the visiting Brevard College Tornados on Saturday (Mar. 12) in South Atlantic Conference action.

The Tornados struck first with back-to-back goals in the opening six minutes to take a 2-0 lead. The Cobras got on the board at the 6:06 mark when Josh Smith put a pass from Mike Martiello in the back of the net to the cut the deficit to just one. Martiello would notch another assist, this time it was Shane Wilson on the scoring end of the find, tying things up at 2-2. Brevard responded with a goal of its own in the final moments to take a 3-2 lead going into the second quarter.

The second quarter was all Tornados, as they outscored the Cobras 6-1 in the frame. The lone Coker goal came from Wilson with 9:27 left in the quarter. Brevard held a 9-3 lead as the teams dispersed for halftime.

After nearly seven minutes of scoreless play to begin the third, Brooks Long netted his first goal of the evening, with Martiello picking up another assist. After a responding goal by Brevard, the Cobras found themselves down 10-4 with four minutes left in the third. Unassisted goals by Wilson, Garrett Kilgore and Smith propelled the Cobras on a 3-0 run to close out the period. Heading into the fourth, Coker was within striking distance down just three, 10-7.

The Navy and Gold continued its scoring ways, opening the fourth quarter with goals by Martiello and Wilson to close the deficit to just one. After Brevard capitalized on a man-up opportunity, Coker was down 11-9 with 4:28 left in the game. After a missed shot, Martiello got his own rebound and found a streaking Long who found the back of the net, leaving the Cobras down 11-10 with 2:20 left in the matchup. With just 54 seconds left, it was Martiello once again finding Wilson who dumped the pass in the back of the net to tie the game up at 11-11, which would send the game to overtime.

In the overtime period, neither team could score in the opening three minutes, with the Coker defense holding strong thanks to an Adam Messel save with two minutes left in the period. On the offensive end, it was Martiello driving his way in and finding the back of the net to complete the comeback and giving the Cobras the 12-11 come-from-behind victory.

Wilson finished with five goals, while Martiello netted two goals and handed out five assists. Long and Smith scored two goals each, while Garrett Kilgore chipped in another.

Messel, who entered the game at the half, racked up five saves, only allowing two goals in just over 33 minutes of action.

The Cobras will be back in action on Saturday (Mar. 19) to take on the visiting Shorter University Hawks in a non-conference matchup. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m.

McDonald's Player of the Game – Adam Messel