Shackelford Rips the Game Winner in Triple Overtime Thriller Versus SCAD

Marietta, GA - Reinhardt Lacrosse survived a back-and-forth AAC semifinal Saturday, beating SCAD Savannah 12-11 when Benjamin Shackelford scored with 1:08 left in the third overtime at Lupo Family Field in Marietta, Georgia. The Eagles erased a four-goal second-quarter deficit, matched SCAD possession for possession late, and finally ended it on Shackelford's third goal of the day.

The semifinal opened evenly before SCAD surged ahead behind Mason Hickman, who finished with seven goals and one assist. Hickman scored the first goal at 14:18 of the first quarter, but Reinhardt answered quickly. Luke Greer tied it at 12:25, Carter Garrison put the Eagles in front at 6:15 off an assist from Joey Amatulli, and Amatulli scored at 1:44 to send the game into the second quarter tied 3-3. SCAD then controlled the middle portion of the game, outscoring Reinhardt 5-1 in the second quarter and building an 8-4 lead. Hickman scored three times in the quarter, while Jonathan O'Bryant Graves and Sebastian Manuel also found the net.

Reinhardt turned the game in the third quarter. Benjamin Shackelford opened the half with a goal at 12:45, Nolan Marsh followed at 11:17, and the Eagles kept pressure on through extra-possession play and efficient ball movement. Reid McDowell scored a man-up goal at 5:32, Bennett Morrison added another at 4:44, and what had been a four-goal gap was down to one. SCAD got a buzzer-beater from Hickman to take a 10-8 lead into the fourth, but Reinhardt had reclaimed control of the game's tempo.

The Eagles finished that push in the fourth quarter. Shackelford scored at 9:50, Amatulli tied it 10-10 at 6:32, and Greer gave Reinhardt an 11-10 lead with 3:19 remaining. SCAD answered again when Hickman scored with 1:43 left in regulation, sending the game to overtime tied 11-11. The first two overtime periods produced no scoring, with both defenses and both goalkeepers holding up under repeated pressure. Reinhardt finished with a 17-11 edge in faceoffs, a 36-29 advantage in ground balls, and 11 saves, numbers that helped the Eagles survive the long finish despite 23 turnovers.

Amatulli led Reinhardt's playmaking with two goals and four assists, while Shackelford scored three times and Greer and Garrison each added two goals. Garrison also had an assist, and the Eagles totaled six assists on 12 goals. Reinhardt put 23 of its 48 shots on cage and converted once in a man-up situation. SCAD matched Reinhardt with 11 saves and got another strong all-around game from O'Bryant Graves, who had one goal and three assists, but the Eagles' edge at the faceoff stripe and in loose-ball battles kept giving them chances.

Shackelford's winner in the third overtime sent the Eagles through after one of the longest and tightest games on the AAC schedule. The shot sends the Eagles to the AAC Championship game, where they will face the Seahawks of Keiser University.  The games match up the #1 and #3 teams in the AAC standings in what should be a competitive contest. The game is set for 1 pm at Life University in Marietta, GA.