CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard men's lacrosse won in thrilling fashion in front of a standing-room only crowd Saturday afternoon at Soldiers Field Lacrosse Stadium, as Devin Dwyer's goal with 32 seconds remaining put the Crimson over the top against No. 8/6 Cornell, 10-9.
Cornell (7-3, 3-1 Ivy League) had momentum on its side after Dan Lintner evened the score at 9-9 with just 40 seconds left in regulation. Domenic Massimilian won the ensuing face off for the Big Red, but his pass back toward Cornell's defensive third was intercepted by Dwyer, who faked once before putting the ball in the back of the net for the game winner.
Dwyer and Ian Ardrey each scored two goals on the day to lead the Harvard (5-5, 1-3 Ivy League) attack, with Ardrey adding one assist to finish with three points. Jack Breit, Morgan Cheek, Joe Lang, Sean McDonagh, Robert Mencke and Matt Ryan also got on the scoreboard, with McDonagh and Ryan also contributing one assist.
Bryan Moore earned his fifth win of the year in goal, turning aside 13 shots while limiting the high-powered Cornell attack to just nine goals. He was assisted by Walker Kirby who forced four turnovers and collected six ground balls, and Ryan who totaled three caused turnovers and three ground balls.
Lintner scored a hat trick to pace Cornell's offensive unit while Massimilian was dominate at the X, winning 17-of-23 face offs. Christian Knight took the loss in goals, stopping eight shots against 10 goals allowed.
Massimilian won the opening face off and put the Big Red on the board just five seconds into the game, but Harvard rallied with three straight goals and held the lead for the majority of the game. Cheek, McDonagh and Dwyer were credited with the scores to give Harvard a 3-1 edge, but a pair of Cornell goals to open the second quarter tied the game at 3-3.
After trading goals, the Crimson closed the first half with a pair off the sticks of Breit and Ardrey to take a 6-4 lead into the intermission. Ryan added a goal in transition to begin the third quarter, putting Harvard in front, 7-4.
Cornell closed to within 7-6 early in the fourth quarter and eventually evened things back up at 8-8 with 8:00 to play. Lang gave the lead back to Harvard with 3:00 on the clock, before Lintner's goal set up the final dramatics.
Harvard will travel down Commonwealth Ave. on Tuesday, April 7 to face Boston University in its final non-conference game of the year. Both teams will be wearing special socks, bracelets and helmet decals in support of the One Love Foundation when they face off at 7 p.m.
Game Notes: Harvard is the first Ivy League program to defeat Cornell in back-to-back seasons since Brown did so in 2009-10 … Devin Dwyer scored two goals to extend his point-scoring streak to 29 games dating back to 2013 … Ian Ardrey totaled three points (2g, 1a) to extend his point-scoring streak to 11 games … Freshman Robert Mencke scored his first collegiate goal … Bryan Moore has made at least 10 saves in five straight games and in six of seven career starts … Walker Kirby contributed a career-high four caused turnovers and a career-best six ground balls … Harvard long poles have contributed 15 points this season; Matt Ryan (5g, 3a), Jack Breit (3g), Walker Kirby (3g) and Brian Fischer (1g) … Harvard improved to 4-1 at home this season and is 27-11 at home under Chris Wojcik '96, The Frisbie Family Head Coach for Harvard Men's Lacrosse … Harvard has won 11 games versus ranked opponents under Chris Wojcik '96, The Frisbie Family Head Coach for Harvard Men's Lacrosse.