Jared Yoshino (Toledo, Ohio/Southview H.S.), Lourdes' all-time leading scorer added to his career total on Saturday, scoring the game-winner just 22 seconds into overtime to give the eighth-ranked Gray Wolves a 10-9 victory over sixth-ranked Siena Heights to celebrate Senior Night at Wildcat Stadium.
"Tonight the seniors did a great job of stepping up and leading," head coach
Patrick Yannarelli said afterwards. "The entire team played very hard throughout the game and there was a lot of selfless play that was essential and contributed to the excitement as we end the regular season."
Yoshino's goal was his third of the game, which was resumed from April 5 when lightning halted the contest with the Gray Wolves in front 2-1.
As play began with 6:14 remaining in the first quarter, Lourdes struck quickly. Yoshino and
Bret Sproul (Chelsea, Maine/Cony H.S.) both found the back of the cage within the first two minutes of play or resuming action to give the Gray Wolves a 4-1 lead after the opening quarter.
Siena Heights battled back, pulling within one, 5-4, at the break.
Dalton Vowles (Toledo, Ohio/Saint John's H.S.) found
Mark O'Bryant (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights H.S.) not once, but twice in front of the goal for a pair of tallies just 1:02 into the third to regain the three-goal advantage.
Sproul, who had a pair of goals on the night, tallied his second of the game with 5:53 left in the third after the Saints had closed to within one, but Siena Heights responded a minute later, and trailed 8-7 heading to the final 15 minutes of regulation.
Alex Gilbert tied the game at eight for the Saints at the 12:20 mark, but Yoshino's second of the game put the Gray Wolves back in front 37 seconds later. Lourdes maintained the one goal lead until 2:10 remained, when Chris Action tied the contest and forced overtime.
Yoshino wasted little time in the extra period, coming out from behind the goal on a wraparound, as Lourdes remains undefeated all-time at Wildcat Stadium.
Lourdes outshot Siena Heights (7-3, 4-3 WHAC) 37-29 for the game, including 30-21 on goal.
Conner Mishler (Lambertville, Mich./Saint John's H.S.) made 12 saves in the win for the Gray Wolves while Tyler Hooper made 20 stops in front of the cage for the Saints.
The Gray Wolves also held a 32-28 edge in ground balls, with Yoshino grabbing seven and
Austin Burger (Monroe, Mich./Saint Mary Catholic Central H.S.) grabbing six more.
Lourdes (10-2, 5-2) will head to the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference semifinals on Wednesday evening. The league will be announcing the official pairings in the upcoming days.