St. Louis – Rockhurst scored with 1:55 left in overtime to edge Maryville 9-8 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference men's lacrosse opener for both squads. Both teams had two possessions in the extra session before Tyler Smith tallied the game winner for the Hawks. Clayton Cerett fired in four goals for the Saints, while Ethan Olson chipped in two scores.
 
Rockhurst recap
Cerett collected a pass from Olson and put the Saints ahead at the 11:40 mark of the first quarter. Cerett doubled the Maryville lead less than two minutes later. Rockhurst scored its first goal but Reid Usrey answered for the Saints. Olson scored at the end of the first to push the Saints ahead 4-2. It was 4-3 midway through the second before Olson tallied his second. Cerett completed his hat trick 33 seconds later for a 6-3 lead before Rockhurst closed to 6-4 at the break.
 
Neither team scored in the third as the defenses took control and the score remained 6-4 into the fourth. The Hawks pulled one back before a Justin Morgan score put the Saints up 7-5. Rockhurst pulled even at 7-7 with 2:29 to play. Cerett had the answer for the Saints as they went back ahead 8-7. However, the Hawks tied the game with 52 seconds left to force overtime.
 
In the extra session, Rockhurst won the opening draw but Saints goalie Jaxon Snyder made the save. The Saints turned the ball over on their possession. The Hawks again had a shot but Snyder came up with the stop. Maryville's first shot in overtime was stopped to set up Rockhurst's winner.
 
The Saints dominated at the faceoff dot, winning 16 of 21, including a 5-for-5 performance by Cooper George.
 
Statistical Leaders
Goals: Clayton Cerett - 4
Assists: Connor Kvaal, Ethan Olson, Justin Simonson - 1
Points: Clayton Cerett - 4
Ground Balls: Ethan Olson - 4
Caused Turnovers: Garrett Rivers - 4
Saves: Jaxon Snyder - 6
 
Records
Maryville: 5-4, 0-1
Rockhurst: 6-3, 1-0                                       
 
What's Next?
The Saints are back in action at home when they host Quincy Saturday, April 1, in an 11 a.m. start.