Tedeschi Nets Overtime Winner, Lifts Men's Lacrosse Over Emerson in Season Opener, 10-9

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Sophomore midfielder Brenden Tedeschi (Orange, Vt.) netted the game-winning goal in overtime, as the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's lacrosse team erased a late three-goal deficit to come from behind and defeat Emerson College (Emerson), 10-9, during the team's season opener Saturday afternoon at the USJ Lacrosse Field in West Hartford, Conn. With the result, the Blue Jays started the year 1-0, while the Lions dropped to 0-2 on the young season.

KEY MOMENTS 

• USJ netted the first goal of the game, as graduate student Kevin Carr (West Hartford, Conn.) found the back of the net at the 12:34 mark.
• Emerson would level the game at the 11:37 mark, but senior midfielder Christian Decker (bristol, Conn.) responded with a solo goal, establishing a 2-1 USJ lead with 7:38 left in the first.
• The Lions though would find a goal late in the first, tying the game at 2-2 with 27 seconds left, sending the game deadlocked at 2-2 into the second.
• Carr would net his second goal of the game in the second quarter, but Emerson would find the back of the net three, times to take a 5-3 edge into the halftime break.
• The Lions carried the momentum into the third, scoring at the 12:06 mark to hold a 6-3 advantage.
• USJ would put an end to the three-goal run, as graduate student midfielder Aidan D'Amato (Tolland, Conn.) scored his first goal in a USJ uniform, cutting the gap to 6-4 with 9:33 on the clock.
• Senior faceoff Luke von Borstel (Massena, N.Y.) then won the ensuing face-off, before rushing down the field and firing a strike into the goal, closing the score to 6-5 with 9:25 on the clock.
• D'Amato would find the back of the net again in the third quarter, ripping his shot into the net after a pass from Tedeschi, tying the game at 6-6 with 2:26 left in the third.
• However, Emerson would score another late goal, taking a 7-6 lead into the fourth.
• The Lions would increase the gap to 9-6, scoring back-to-back man-up strikes to take a 9-6 edge with 12:53 on the clock.
• USJ would not go away though, as sophomore attackman Matthew Wurszt scored a solo goal, cutting the gap to 9-7 at the 9:33 mark.
• D'Amato rounded out his hattrick with 7:37 on the clock, before Decker tied the game at 9-9 with 4:25 left in regulation.
• The Blue Jays thought they scored a buzzer-beating winner, but a potential goal was called off, ending the game into overtime.
• Tedeschi would come up clutch for USJ in the extra frame, scoring a solo goal 56 seconds into overtime, winning the game for the Blue Jays, 10-9.

NOTES 

• D'Amato paced the team with three goals.
• Carr corralled a team-high six ground balls.
• Senior defenseman Jay Kajander (Reading, Mass.) and graduate student defenseman CJ Denson (West Hartford, Conn.) caused a team-best three turnovers, each.
• von Borstel paced the team at the faceoff X, posting a 9-for-14 mark.
• Graduate student Trey McCann (Simsbury, Conn.) got the win in the cage for USJ, recording nine saves on the day.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays round out a two-game home stretch to start the 2025 season on Wednesday, February 19, hosting crosstown foe University of Hartford. Opening faceoff against the Hawks at the USJ Lacrosse Field in West Hartford, Conn., is set for 3:30 p.m.

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