Trojans Push No. 7 LTU to Double Overtime in WHAC Opener

UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor and No. 7 Lawrence Tech locked up in a thrilling double-overtime tilt to open Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play on Saturday at Wheeler Field. The Trojans led throughout but could not hold on and suffered a 14-13 loss.

The game pitted LTU's (6-1, 1-0 WHAC) third-ranked offense against Taylor's (5-3, 0-1 WHAC) seventh-ranked defense, with the TU defense holding the edge throughout the majority of the day.

After a quick Blue Devil score, Taylor countered with the next five tallies, including a pair from Henry Cooper for a 5-1 lead. The two sides traded goals over the rest of the half, with the Trojans battling to an 8-6 lead at the break.

Jackson Dale found the net twice to open the third, pushing the Taylor lead up to 10-7 but the guests posted the final three scores of the period to draw even at 10-10 heading to the final quarter of regulation.

Cooper momentarily took over in the opening moments of the fourth, unleashing three-unanswered rockets past the LTU keeper for a 13-10 edge with 10:33 remaining.

Those would be TU's last scores of the afternoon however, and the rally ended quickly with a Lawrence Tech counter just 26 seconds later to draw within a pair of goals.

The 13-11 lead held until the final moments, before LTU got game-saving goals with 2:20 and 1:25 showing on the clock to send the game into overtime.

Taylor looked poised to have the last laugh with a trio of great scoring chances in the first overtime, but a Will Vanderkodde shot ricocheted off post and two other point-blank shots were stopped.

In the second overtime, it was LTU with the best looks, with the first being denied by a save from Ben Harrell. Another good look from the guests proved to be the final of the day however, as LTU's shot found the back of the net for the 14-13 win.

Cooper and Dale paced the Trojans in the game, with Cooper posting five goals and Dale adding four goals, three assists and six ground balls.

The Taylor defense got eight ground balls and six caused turnovers from Casey Bane, five ground balls and two caused turnovers from Ethan Andrews and 17 saves from Harrell.

Taylor will continue WHAC play on Wednesday, April 2, with a clash at No. 4 Indiana Tech (7-1, 0-0 WHAC) in a 7:00 pm start.