Firebirds Defeated in Overtime, 9-8 in ECC Season Opener vs. Dominican

WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia men's lacrosse team was defeated in overtime by East Coast Conference foe Dominican, 9-8 at Georgetown University's Cooper Field Friday night.

Junior attack Chase Fraser led the Firebirds with four goals, including two during their 4^th quarter comeback that saw UDC erase a 7-4 deficit and pull in front, 8-7 at the four-minute mark.

Ryan Wiberly saved the day in for the Chargers in regulation with a game-tying goal at the 1:39 mark which ultimately sent the game into overtime. There, Dominican's David Arent scored his game-high sixth goal of the night 50 seconds into the extra session, sending the Chargers to victory.

Dominican's Joseph Fabilli earned his first win in goal for the Chargers this season with 20 saves and eight goals allowed. The Chargers, which had lost to UDC each of the last two seasons, improved to 1-2 in the all-time series and moved to 2-2 overall in this current season.

Graduate senior goalkeeper Pat Payne made 12 saves and allowed nine goals as he and the Firebirds fell to 0-2 to start the 2016 season.

UDC out-shot Dominican 54-35 (28-21 SOG) and were better on clear attempts (16-of-19 to 13-of-22) with eight fewer turnovers (22-14). However, Fabilli stopped eight more shots than Payne, and the Chargers won 11-of-20 faceoffs, including the all-important faceoff to begin play in overtime.

Next up, the Firebirds will visit St. Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday, March 12^th at 2:30 p.m.