J.P. Lagunowich Signature Goal for Chatham Boys Lacrosse in 4th Quarter is Eclipsed by 9-8 Double-Overtime Loss to Montclair

MONTCLAIR, NJ -- Everyone at Watchung Field who witnessed J.P. Lagunowich's remarkable backhanded shot that gave Chatham the lead early in the fourth quarter, will certainly remember it.

The University of Virginia commit dodged a defender and made a downhill run that he finished by threading a backhanded shot between two defenders and inside the far post (see below) in the first minute of the fourth quarter.

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But the footnote connected to Lagunowich's signature goal is that Chatham finished the game deflated by a 9-8 double-overtime setback to Montclair that was ended when Drew Pfeifer scored with 41.3 seconds left in the second OT, cashing in the rebound of the reaction save by Cougar goalie Henry Davenport on a point-blank breakaway shot.

Chatham (5-2) took a 7-6 lead on Lagunowich's second goal of the game in the first minute of the fourth quarter and appeared to take an 8-6 lead with about 7:25 left when Charlie Lowe came from behind the net and received a pass from Colin Manitta before firing a high shot past the goalie (see below).

But it became an "invisible" goal that didn't count when none of the three referees would signal a goal. According to Chatham coach Christian Scarpello , he was told by one referee that "he missed it" but did not receive any other explanation.

Chatham, however, did manage to take an 8-6 lead with 6:21 left in the fourth when Manitta scored off Lowe's pass from behind (see below).

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"I guess you can say that (the invisible no-goal by Lowe affected the game) but it really comes down to the overtime stuff," J.P. Lagunowich said. "We didn't play that out well and finish the ball well, so that's why we lost that game."

The Cougars did have their chances in the extra sessions. In the first overtime, a Davenport stop (11 saves) and a ground ball by Paul Kuppenheimer gave Chatham two possessions that it didn't convert.

In the second OT, Montclair won the faceoff, but turned it over and Owen Irish gained possession for the Cougars. A missed Chatham connection on a cut to the cage led to Simon Mikalszewski's shot in transition for Montclair that Davenport thwarted before Pfeiffer ended it.

"It's tough to lose like that," Lagunowich said. "We just have to play better in the middle of the field and clean up the clearing and riding."

Two goals by sophomore attack Kyle Gibney , a goal by J.P. Lagunowich and two goals by senior middie Cole Polemeni had staked Chatham to a 5-2 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Montclair (3-3) had most of the possession, leading to three straight goals that tied the score at 5-5. The Cougars could not win a faceoff and did not take their first shot of the second half until there was 2:20 left in the third period. But with 45 seconds left, Gibney scored his third goal of the game (see below) to regain the lead for Chatham.

The 6-5 lead lasted just seven seconds as Montclair's Jayden Truesdale won the faceoff and scored before the Cougar defense could blink, making it 6-6 with 38 seconds showing.

COUGAR NOTES : Cougar senior middie J.P. Lagunowich registered two goals and two assists to give him 15 goals on the season and 91 in his career ... sophomore Kyle Gibney's first career hat trick gave him 13 goals ... Charlie Lowe was credited with his 20th assist of the season on the goal scored by Colin Manitta ... Chatham is off for six days before it travels to meet Summit (4-2) at 4:30 p.m. next Wednesday.

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