LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In a thrilling defensive battle that came down to the wire, the Spalding University men's lacrosse team secured a gritty 9–8 overtime victory against Earlham College on Saturday afternoon at Legacy Fields.

The Golden Eagles (2–11, 1–2 HCLC) overcame a late-game deficit, outscoring the Quakers in the fourth quarter to force the extra period and ultimately seal the conference win.

GAME RECAP
The contest was a defensive stalemate early on, with both teams trading lone goals in the first quarter to enter the second frame tied 1–1. Earlham found some offensive rhythm in the second, outscoring Spalding 3–1 to take a 4–2 lead into the halftime break.

The Quakers maintained their two-goal cushion through the third quarter, matching Spalding goal-for-goal to lead 6–4 heading into the final 15 minutes of regulation.

Facing a late deficit, the Spalding offense came alive in the fourth quarter. Led by a relentless attack and dominant ground ball play, the Golden Eagles found the back of the net four times in the period. Despite two late goals from Earlham to keep it level, the Golden Eagles' surge successfully forced overtime with the score knotted at 8–8.

In the sudden-death overtime period, Spalding took control. After a crucial faceoff win by Eli Teater, the Golden Eagles' offense capitalized on their possession to net the game-winner and end the marathon contest.

Stat Leaders

• Goals: Jontae Johnson led the charge for the Golden Eagles with a hat trick (3 goals). Giovanni Distasio added two goals of his own.
• Assists: Xzayvyon Isom, Nicolas Guzman, and Distasio each provided a helper in the win.
• Saves: Goalkeeper John Kelly was the hero of the day, standing tall in the cage with a career-high 22 saves on 30 shots on goal to keep Spalding within striking distance.
• Ground Balls & Faceoffs: The Golden Eagles won the battle on the turf, scooping up 27 ground balls compared to Earlham's 21. Eli Teater was vital at the X, helping Spalding win 13 of 21 faceoffs.