CHESTER, Pa. – The Shenandoah University men's lacrosse team secured its first win of the season with a thrilling 9-8 comeback victory over Widener University on Saturday. The Hornets (1-2) were led by Dillon Bakhsh, who made an impressive season debut with four goals. Clark Harrity, Josh Boonshaft, Dylan Taylor, Jake Green, and Dylan Pencek each added a goal to contribute to the victory.
Matt Daniel and Jake Green paced the team with two assists apiece, while Boonshaft, Taylor, and Sam Poster each recorded one. Ryan Therkorn, the Hornets' leading faceoff specialist (8-12), tallied a team-high two ground balls, while Prince Ayivon led the defense with two caused turnovers.
For the second consecutive game, the Hornets held an edge in the faceoff circle, winning 11 of 19 attempts compared to Widener's 8 of 19. Goalkeeper Mark Isabelle made 13 saves, securing his first win of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Widener won the opening faceoff and quickly fired two shots, both of which sailed high. The Hornets struggled to clear the ball from their defensive zone, leading to another Widener attempt that was blocked. On Shenandoah's first offensive possession, Dylan Pencek registered the Hornets' first shot, but the Pride's goalie came up with the save.
After Isabelle forced a turnover, Jake Green's shot was also saved, keeping the game scoreless five minutes into play. The Hornets then went on a power play, but despite shots from Cody Griffis and Boonshaft, Widener successfully cleared the zone and scored a shorthanded goal to take a 1-0 lead.
Following the ensuing faceoff, the Pride fired three more shots—two saved by Isabelle and one sailing high. However, Widener capitalized on its fourth attempt, extending the lead to 2-0 with just over seven minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Hornets responded while shorthanded when Isabelle made a save, initiating a clear that led to Dylan Taylor finding Clark Harrity for Shenandoah's first goal. This cut the deficit to 2-1 as the first quarter ended.
The second quarter was dominated by Widener, which added five unanswered goals to take a commanding 7-1 lead into halftime. Despite offensive efforts from Griffis, Green, Bakhsh, and Daniel, the Hornets were unable to find the back of the net.
The Hornets came out of halftime determined to claw their way back. Isabelle made an early save in the third quarter before Dylan Pencek found the net while Shenandoah was once again shorthanded, marking the team's second man-down goal of the game.
As the Hornets tightened their defensive pressure, causing multiple turnovers, Bakhsh broke through with his first goal of the season on a power play, assisted by Boonshaft. Less than two minutes later, Bakhsh struck again—this time off a pass from Poster—bringing the score to 7-4.
Widener briefly halted Shenandoah's momentum with a late goal in the third quarter, pushing its lead to 8-4. However, Boonshaft quickly responded, netting a man-up goal just before the quarter ended to make it 8-5 heading into the final frame.
Shenandoah dominated the fourth quarter, scoring four unanswered goals to complete the comeback. With just over 12 minutes left, Green found the net off an assist from Daniel. Therkorn won the ensuing faceoff, allowing Taylor to march downfield and score just seconds later, cutting the deficit to one.
With under 10 minutes remaining, Bakhsh completed his hat trick to tie the game at 8-8. Minutes later, he delivered the game-winning goal on a power play with under five minutes to play.
Widener attempted to mount a response, but Isabelle stood tall, making three of his 13 saves in the fourth quarter to preserve the 9-8 victory.
UP NEXT
The Hornets return home on Wednesday, welcoming Marymount University to Shentel Stadium for a non-conference matchup. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
#GoSUHornets
