Box Score THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Maritime Men's Lacrosse team opened the 2016 season with a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Centenary (N.J.) Cyclones by the score of 12-11 in overtime on Saturday afternoon on Reinhart Field.
 
Maritime was led by sophomore Nick Pellegrino (Melville, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East) with four goals, one assist and 10 shots. Classmate Ian Danahy (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South) recorded three goals, while sophomore Julius Diaz (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport) added a pair. The Privateers also got goals from junior Joe Fusco (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay-East Fishkill) and sophomore T.J. Ragusa (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh).
 
On faceoffs, senior Matt Hayes (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) was 16-for-25 on his attempts as he led the team with 12 ground balls. Sophomore goalkeeper Brenden McNally also added seven ground balls while making 13 saves on the afternoon.
 
Defensively, Maritime was led by sophomore Paul Lafrancesca (Nesconset, N.Y./Sachem North) with four caused turnovers, while McNally, Pellegrino, along with sophomore John Piscitello Jr. (Bayville, N.Y./Locust Valley) all forced three turnovers apiece. Sophomore Joseph Hussey (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's) also caused a pair of turnovers.
 
Maritime jumped on the board early with a goal from Pellegrino just over two minutes into the contest, Centenary tied the game but Maritime answered right back. Pellegrino picked up his second of the game, followed by a goal from Fusco off a pass from junior Chris Haun (Necsonset, N.Y./Sachem North).
 
As play resumed in the second quarter, Maritime leaped ahead by a 4-1 score as Pellegrino netted his third of the game off a pass from senior Peter Rooney (Long Beach, N.Y./Chaminade). Centenary scored the next two, but the Privateers added a goal late in the half from Diaz to take a 5-3 advantage into the halftime break.
 
After the intermission, the Cyclones scored the next three goals to take its first lead of the game at 6-5. Ragusa scored next for the Privateers to knot the game at six, with the goal being assisted by junior Jack Johnson (Annandale, Va./Annandale).
 
With the game tied at seven, Maritime scored the next two as Pellegrino scored, followed by a man-up goal from Danahy to push the Privateers ahead by a 9-7 score with 6:59 left in the third period. Centenary answered immediately to pull within one, then scored twice more to regain a 10-9 lead.
 
Pellegrino scored once again to tie the game at 10, followed by a Danahy tally with nine seconds left in the stanza to send the Privateers into the fourth quarter ahead by one goal at 11-10.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Cyclones scored the lone marker of the period to even the game at 11. The Privateers took a late penalty to give Centenary a man-up chance heading into the overtime session.
 
Centenary was unable to convert on the extra-man chance, but did get the ball back after a save on the defensive end. The Cyclones scored the game-deciding tally with 2:33 left in the first overtime period to send Centenary to their second victory.
 
Maritime (0-1) will next play host to the Norwich Cadets on Sunday, March 6 with the opening faceoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Centenary (2-0) will play again on Wednesday, when the Cyclones return home for a 3 p.m. start against the Muhlenberg Mules.