Third Quarter Slump Leads to Skyhawks 9-4 Loss to Life University
MARIETTA, Ga. - The Point University Skyhawks matched the Life University Running Eagles through the first half Saturday afternoon, but a four-goal third quarter influenced the outcome in a 9-4 loss at Lupo Family Field. After the teams went to halftime tied 3-3, Life scored four times in a 5:38 stretch of the third quarter to jump in the driver's seat and hand the Skyhawks the loss.
Malyke Sillers led Point with three goals, including a man-up score in the second quarter and another late in the fourth. Shaun McLaughlin added three assists, helping set up much of the Skyhawks' offense. Rodney Oakley also delivered a key moment before halftime, scoring shorthanded with 38 seconds left in the opening half to equalize the score at 3-3.
Life opened the scoring on Jared Cordova's goal at 7:44 of the first quarter and built a 2-0 lead early in the second when Tristan Berry found the net. Point answered quickly. Sillers scored on the extra-man opportunity at 8:09 of the second, then struck again at 5:59 to even the game 2-2. Eric Manfredonia put Life back in front with a power-play goal at 2:05, but Oakley's shorthanded finish sent the teams into the break deadlocked.
The Running Eagles gave the game a different tone in the back half of regulation. Evan Sengstock scored at 10:38 of the third quarter to give Life a 4-3 edge, and the home side kept coming. Alex McGuire scored at 7:05, Manfredonia added his second goal at 6:09 off an assist from Meritt Turner, and Cordova scored again at 5:00 to push the margin to 7-3. Point did not score in the third quarter, and that run proved to be too much to climb back from.
The Skyhawks fell short in the faceoff battle 13-4, with Life's Christofer Tyson credited with 12 faceoff wins, and finished with a 34-18 edge in ground balls. The Running Eagles also generated heavy pressure with 61 shots, compared with 15 for Point. Despite that volume, Skyhawks goalkeeper Whitman Prewitt kept Point within reach for stretches by making 18 saves.
Life extended the lead to 8-3 on Keegan Boschert's goal early in the fourth quarter before Sillers completed his hat trick with 1:15 remaining. Tyson answered in the final minute to close the scoring at 9-4. Each team converted one power-play chance, but Life's depth and control of possession, especially after halftime, defined the afternoon.
The Skyhawks' series of away games continues on Thursday, April 2 vs. Mount Vernon Nazarine University. That will be a neutral-site matchup at Henry Clay High School (Lexington, Kentucky) at 3:00pm EDT.