BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Rhodes College men's lacrosse team scored two goals in the final 22 seconds of regulation to force overtime against the Birmingham-Southern Panthers on Saturday afternoon, but the Panthers got the last laugh, scoring the golden goal in overtime to defeat the Lynx, 9-8. 

In a battle between two one loss team and two 1-0 teams in the Southern Athletic Association, the two teams were dead even in shots at 28 with Rhodes holding a slight 21-18 advantage in shots on goal. The Lynx had 22 turnovers while the Panthers had 21 and Rhodes was 22-for-27 in clear attempts to Birmingham-Southern's 20-for-25.

Sophomore Ryan Fennelly opened the scoring up in the first quarter to put Rhodes ahead 1-0, but BSC would tie in a minute later. Freshman John Tooher got his huge day starting off with a goal with 3:24 remaining in the first to put Rhodes ahead 2-1. The Panthers answered again to tie it at two as the game moved into the next period.

In the second, the defenses really made it tough as neither team could get much going. Only one goal came in the quarter as BSC took a 3-2 advantage into the break.

The Panthers opened the third quarter with two goals in the first minute to suddenly take a 5-2 lead. However, Tooher would catch fire, scoring three straight goals to close the quarter and followed it up with his fourth consecutive goal ot begin the fourth and give the Lynx a 6-5 lead.

However, Birmingham-Southern responded with two goals to move ahead 7-6 and looked like they had the match wrapped up as they took an 8-6 lead with 55 second to play. With 22 seconds to go, freshman Tyler Milwit scored his first goal of the game to make it a one goal deficit.

From there, Milwit caused a turnover with six seconds remaining and got it up to freshman Henry Hasbrouch who put it away with three seconds remaining to tie the game at eight and force overtime.

In the OT, Rhodes had an opportunity for the win, but a big save got BSC the ball back where they were able to come away with the game winning goal on their home field.

Tooher set a new career-high in goals with five on the evening while Milwit finished with a goal, three assists, two caused turnovers, and a groundball. Fennelly and Hasbrouck each added a goal while Tooher, Fennelly, junior Matthew Jones, and sophomore Steven Yowan each had one assist.

Junior John Wancowicz had two caused turnovers and five groundballs and sophomore John Snyder also had two caused turnovers. Hasbrouck, Fennelly, and freshman Matthew Simon all had four groundballs. Sophomore Cameron Link finished with nine saves on the evening.

Rhodes moves to 8-2 overall and 1-1 in SAA play. They will return home to Crain Field for a three game homestand beginning on Friday at 6 PM with a SAA matchup with Oglethorpe University.