OWINGS MILLS, Md. (Apr. 30, 2016) – Freshman goalkeeper Matt Horton (Emmaus, Pa.) matched a career high for saves and senior Tim Taylor (Philadelphia, Pa.) netted his sixth hat trick in the last seven games, but it wasn't enough, as the Widener University men's lacrosse team fell to nationally-ranked Stevenson by a 7-6 score in double overtime on Saturday evening at Mustang Stadium.
 
Widener never trailed during regulation and was within seconds of pulling up an upset in a game that would determine the top seed and hosting rights for upcoming Middle Atlantic Conference Tournament. But after Lito Flanagan hit a shot off the post, the Mustangs took a timeout and netted the equalizer to force overtime with 13 seconds left when Stephen Banick found Pat Candon for a strike.
 
Anthony Paone won the opening faceoff of the extra session which helped give the Pride several chances to put the game away after never trailing. The Pride had the ball for the last possession following a key Horton save on the other end, but sophomore Brandon Sweder (Mount Laurel, N.J.) and Tim Taylor had their attempts go high and wide. Stevenson then took control of the opening faceoff in the second overtime and got the sudden victory goal from Morgan Pritchett just 51 seconds into the frame to keep the Mustangs unbeaten in league play.
 
Widener won the first four faceoffs of the game and scored three times before the Mustangs could even attempt a shot. Senior captain Marc Lavine (Nashua, N.H.) put the visitors on the board at 14:17 and then set up Mitchell Phillips (Wyomissing, Pa.) for a marker at 10:31. Tim Taylor then made it 3-0 by finding the back of the net with 7:43 on the clock to put the visitors in control and eventually force the Mustangs to take a timeout with the home crowd absolutely stunned.
 
Stevenson (13-4, MAC Commonwealth 8-0), however, came back and got on the board when Kyle D'Onofrio netted a man-up goal with 2:34 left in the first. Parish Young then sliced the lead in half with 8:04 remaining in the second quarter, and Pritchett netted the equalizer with less than two minutes left. The Mustangs threatened to take the lead in the waning seconds while playing a man up again, but Horton came up with one of his many key saves to send the teams into the recess in a 3-3 deadlock.
 
After a tough second quarter, the Pride came out with new life in the third and rattled off three unanswered goals for the second time of the match. Tim Taylor had a hand in all three scores by finding the back of the net twice and finding junior Tyler Schulte (Southampton, N.J.) for a score to help the Pride regain their three-goal lead at the 6:38 mark before Stevenson would slowly climb back and eventually come away with the pivotal win.
 
Tim Taylor led the Widener offense by recording four points on three goals and one assist. Paone won 12 of his 16 faceoff attempts, while Horton matched a career high with 16 saves.
 
Pritchett came off the bench to score the golden goal and found the back of the net three times to pace Stevenson in the winning effort. Connor Skeen made nine saves between the pipes, and defender Chad Williams caused four turnovers.
 
Widener (7-7, MAC Commonwealth 6-2) earned the third seed in the upcoming Middle Atlantic Conference Tournament and will visit second-seeded Messiah for a semifinal match on Wednesday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m.