DANVILLE, Ky. – Centre men's lacrosse claimed a thrilling win in the 2022 home opener Saturday against Elmhurst, escaping with an 11-10 victory at South Turf Field.
 
Junior Will Hubbs provided the game-winning score with 37 seconds on the clock, converting a pass from Dylan Croft for the fourth and final lead change of the afternoon.
 
The Colonels (2-0) and Bluejays (0-1) were tied on eight separate occasions during the first ever meeting between the two programs.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Elmhurst scored on its first possession of the game to take an early lead, but consecutive unassisted goals from Noah Malubay and David Caldwell had the Colonels in front midway through the period.
- Hubbs scored the first of his team-high four goals later in the period off a feed from Ridr Knowlton that made it 3-2 through one period.
- Croft started the next quarter off with a bang, winning his faceoff and promptly taking the ball downfield to score his second goal of the season.
- Malubay hit the back of the net again in the second period, but the Bluejays closed the half strong to pull even at 5-5 by the intermission.
- Centre more than doubled Elmhurst in shots during the third frame, but the Bluejays made the most of their attempts and went into the final period on top, 8-7.
- Hubbs took it upon himself to level the score early in the fourth, notching his second hat trick in as many games this season.
- Gavin Fields made a highlight-worthy play just one minute later, stealing possession near midfield, carrying the ball into the attacking third and finishing with a shot off the turf. It was the first collegiate goal for the sophomore long stick midfielder.
- The back-and-forth carried on until the final minute, when Elmhurst's Ben Luke took advantage of a Centre turnover to tie the game at 10-10 with 46 seconds remaining.
- Croft quickly won the ensuing faceoff – his 14th of the afternoon – and found Hubbs for what became the game-winning goal.
- Rookie goalie Ramsay Cole made a save on the final shot of the contest to seal the victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Cole came up with six saves in the fourth quarter alone, finishing the game with a dozen stops.
- Hubbs (four goals, one assist) and Caldwell (three goals) led Centre's offensive effort. As a team, Centre out-shot Elmhurst 52-28.
- Croft once again out-matched his opponents at the faceoff X, winning 14 of 21 attempts. Alex Mozingo went 4-for-4 to help the Colonels claim 72% of all faceoffs.
- The Colonels finished with 40 ground balls to the Bluejays' 22. Croft led the way with eight, followed by seven from Fields and six from JR Brockman.
- Will Morrison paced the team with three caused turnovers.
 
UP NEXT
Centre is back on the road next Saturday, Feb. 26, taking on Ohio Wesleyan in Delaware, Ohio.