INDIANAPOLIS – In what proved to be the most important game of the season to date, the No. 7 UIndy men's lacrosse team (12-1, 6-0 GLVC) erased a seven-goal second-half deficit to down the No. 13 Rockhurst Hawks (11-3, 5-1 GLVC) on Friday in overtime, 12-11.
 
Parker Johnson nailed the game-winner just eight seconds into the extra period after Kyle Basch scooped up the ground ball on the faceoff.
 
Prior to the game, the program recognized 10 seniors to thank them for their hard work and dedication to the University of Indianapolis. Against the Hawks, seniors combined to score six times and register 10 of 19 points in the win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a rough start for the Greyhound defense, allowing three goals in just over four minutes of action. UIndy was able to sandwich a pair of goals between the Rockhurst three-score run each time, with Brian Robb and Matthew Johnson each finding the back of the cage by halftime.
 
Rockhurst forced 15 UIndy turnovers in the first half to claim an 8-2 lead.
 
It appeared it would be much of the same early in the second half, as the Hawks took a 9-2 lead 68 seconds after the break. However, the seventh-ranked Greyhounds had other plans.
 
UIndy would finish the third quarter on a 7-0 run, which was capped by M. Johnson's second goal of the contest and the second behind-the-backer of the day for the Hounds. Parker Kump led six different scorers in that stretch, netting his own Sportscenter top-10 highlight at the 2:15 mark of the frame.
 
Drew Billig finished off an 8-0 run for UIndy early in the fourth quarter to give the Greyhounds their first lead of the day, however, the Hawks answered back quickly to knot the game at 10 apiece. After more back and forth, M. Johnson gave UIndy a one-goal advantage with 5:27 left on the scoreboard.
 
After Rockhurst forced another turnover with 30 seconds left, the Hawks ran down the field and Nick Schveninger tied the game at 11 with five ticks remaining to force overtime. The Hounds did not waste any time in the extra session, as Basch picked up Robbie Berardi's faceoff win to find P. Johnson for the win.
 

Video or it didn't happen #winner pic.twitter.com/5tqQtg9KvO

— UIndy Athletics (@UIndyAthletics) April 19, 2019

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Friday marks the fourth win over a ranked opponent this season, and the second instance the Hounds sunk an overtime winner. UIndy claimed defeat over No. 3 Seton Hill back on February 13 to earn its highest-ranked win in program history.
 
The Hounds shared the wealth in the win, as nine different players registered at least one point. Senior Shawn Kimble tallied four, including one goal and three assists.
 
Matthew Johnson recorded his fourth hat trick of the season, and second straight after scoring four times last Saturday at Maryville.
 
Senior goalkeeper Jarod Kimble made 13 saves, including eight first-half stops. The Rochester, N.Y. product snagged three ground balls and caused one turnover.
 
The Greyhounds continue to add to their program-record win total with their 12th victory in 2019. UIndy won 10 times a season ago, eventually claiming the inaugural GLVC Championship Tournament crown. The Hounds have now earned the right to defend their title on home turf, as three more teams will visit the Circle City next weekend to determine the winner.
 
Known as one of the best faceoff teams in the country, Rockhurst gave way to UIndy specialist Robbie Berardi on Friday, who won the battle by a 15-12 mark at the x. The junior scooped up eight ground balls and netted a goal in the third quarter.
 
MORE NOTES
Ten separate Greyhounds recorded one caused turnover on Friday … Erich Wiitala led the back line with four ground balls for UIndy … Rockhurst's Sam Lindahl led the Hawks with three goals … Hawks' keeper Alex Pfeil made 12 saves of his own between the pipes … three different Hawks tallied three caused turnovers, with Drake O'Neil also picking up six ground balls and adding two points … Rockhurst won the overall shot battle, 55-36, but each team put 24 shots on goal ... it is the first time in the short three-game history between the teams that UIndy defeated Rockhurst.
 
HOUND BYTES
"I think the biggest thing in the second half was that we tightened up our slides," head coach Greg Stocks said after the game. "That put more pressure on them and we dictated a little more to get our offense the ball."
 
Stocks continued: "The fact that Robbie did what he did against one of the best faceoff teams in the country obviously is a tremendous help to us, especially what he did in overtime to keep it dirty and let Kyle pick it up to start the transition.
 
"It's a lot to easier to play at home; with the help we'll get from fans next weekend during the conference tournament will really be a big boost," Stocks concluded. "The senior will really cherish this opportunity to host."
 
UP NEXT
The GLVC will release the final bracket for the 2019 league tournament later on Saturday evening once the remaining games have finished. UIndy earned the right for the second straight season and joins Rockhurst as the only two teams to have locked in a position for the postseason tournament.