BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Birmingham-Southern men's lacrosse team defeated future SAA opposition Southwestern in the 2024 season opener. Senior Cameron Herd tied the BSC single-game goals record with eight to lead the Panthers to victory.
How it happened
Cameron Herd got things started with the first goal of the season to give the Panthers a one-goal lead inside the first minute. Southwestern then replied and took a 3-2 lead after
Josh Tamarkin put one in for BSC.
Micah Finotti then scored a laser of a shot to tie the score at three with 5:33 to go in the quarter. The Pirates would break the deadlock with three unanswered goals in a little over two minutes to take a 6-3 lead.
Cameron Herd then added two more goals at the end of the quarter to cut the deficit to one.
The Panthers carried their momentum from the end of the first quarter into the second. The period turned out to be all 'Southern with five straight goals including three more from
Cameron Herd. A 7-0 run dating back to 1:44 in the first quarter gave BSC a 10-6 lead with 4:58 left in the opening half. Southwestern finally put an end to the run by putting one in the back of the net with 19 seconds to go in the quarter. However, the Panthers still led by three at the break up 10-7.
Southwestern took a page out of the BSC book with an excellent start to start the second half. Four unanswered goals in the opening four minutes put the Pirates in the lead and brought momentum to the away side.
Raymond Fracchia put an end to the Southwestern run with a goal to tie the game at 11. The Pirates replied less than a minute later to reclaim the lead. Down a goal with 9:37 left, the Panthers flipped a switch and took total control.
Micah Finotti,
Cameron Herd,
Raymond Fracchia, and
Patton Hunter scored four consecutive goals with
Kyle Winter putting the cherry on top at the end of the third to take a four-goal lead.
Cameron Herd scored his record-tying eighth goal of the game to start the fourth quarter to give the Panthers their largest lead of the game at five. Southwestern then went on a quick 4-1 run to bring the game within two goals with 9:00 to go. Excellent Panther defense in addition to two
Kyle Winter goals then all but put the game out of reach with 4:41 remaining. Southwestern would score two more, but two
Josh Tamarkin goals from
Raymond Fracchia put the game to bed. BSC went onto win, 22-18 for Head Coach
Carson Sterling's first collegiate win.
Game notes
Records
Birmingham-Southern 1-0, Southwestern 0-1
Up Next
BSC will be on the road to Salisbury, N.C. to take on Pfeiffer on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7:00 EST.
