COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University men's lacrosse team took part in an absolute thriller on Saturday, hosting Mount Union in the first round of the OAC conference tournament. Sixty minutes were not enough to separate the two squads as the game went into overtime tied 13-13. Brenden Pelton would play hero in the final seconds as he dove across the crease to score the sudden-death game-winner and put Cap in the semifinals,14-13. 

Capital moves up to 13-4 on the season, having finished the regular season with a 7-2 OAC record. The Comets will play John Carroll in the OAC Semifinals.

Mount Union's run ends at 6-11, 3-6 in conference play. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Capital stalled a little bit out of the gates, scoring just one goal in the first quarter and falling into an early 3-1 deficit. Jacob Poole was responsible for the lone score, the game's first goal for either team. The Comets left the first quarter behind and came into their own in the second, outscoring Mount Union 5-3 to end the half all even. Nathan Montgomery got the party started, putting in Cap's second of the day just 35 seconds into the second quarter. After two quick responses from the other side, Dylan Comella came forward from the defensive end to score his second of the season, compliments of an assist by Jake Belt. This offered a huge momentum boost to CU as they went on to add three more to the run via Charlie Howenstine (2) and Nathan Montgomery. Mason Spaulding was responsible for the assist on Howenstines second goal. Once that dust had settled, Mount Union would add a lone goal to tie it at 6-6 going into halftime. 

Control of the game was in a constant swing in the second half with neither team able to pull away. Mount Union got started by scoring two to take an 8-6 lead. Cap then strung three together from Howenstine, Belt, and Freddy Noday to get back on top. Mount tied it up again with a man-up goal but this was quickly canceled out by a Capital man-up goal from Evan Frund, assisted by Spaulding. The Purple Raiders would pull back even before the end of the quarter, 10-10. The teams traded blows in the fourth quarter, each adding three to their totals and finishing regulation still tied at 13-13. Montgomery and Brenden Pelton (2) provided Cap's share. 

It would all come down to a four-minute sudden-death overtime period to settle the score. Face-off man Freddy Noday secured the first possession for the Comets but it would end fruitless following a missed shot and a turnover. Cleared the other end, Mount Union took their crack at the win but it was saved by senior goalie Sam McInturf and the ball went back the other way. Capital would crank off three shots in the ensuing possession, the third being saved. This is when some clutch defense came into play as Spaulding would disrupt the keepers pass on the coming clear and – after some fighting – the ball dribbled out of bounds being last touched by Mount Union, giving the Comets one last chance with around 15 seconds left. Pelton would be the one to bring it back into play, dodging his way through traffic to take it to the edge of the crease. With a diving leap, he put the ball past the keeper and into the back of the net. With just over seven seconds left in overtime, the game was decided 14-13 in favor of Capital. THE NUMBERS
Brenden Pelton plays overtime hero against Mount Union for the second time in his career with his diving game-winner. He previously put in an OT golden goal against the Purple Raiders during last year's 11-10 regular season win. Pelton put in three big goals during the game, two to tie it and one to end it. He also picked up two ground balls.

Charlie Howenstine and Nathan Montgomery also had hat tricks. 

Jake Belt put up two points off of one goal and one assist. He also grabbed a career-high six ground balls and caused one turnover.

Jacob Poole put up two points off of one goal and one assist as well, with five ground balls. 

Mason Spaulding caused three turnovers – including the one that gave Capital their game-winning possession – while also contributing two assists and two ground balls. 

Evan Frund, Dylan Comella, and Freddy Noday finish off the scoresheet with one goal apiece. Comella additionally caused one turnover and picked up one ground ball while Frund found a ground ball as well. Noday had a day on the face-off winning 25-of-29 and tying the program record for a second time this season. He also grabbed a game-high 14 ground balls to take him over 100 for the season. 

Rounding out the defensive effort was Drew Bolen (5 GB, 1 CT), James Howenstine (4 GB, 2 CT), Robert Smith (3 GB), Gino Nave (3 GB), Ethan Adkins (2 CT, 1 GB), Austin Yanichko (1 GB), and Max Schillig (1 GB).

Sam McInturf spent the day in the cage, coming away with 12 saves, four ground balls, and his 13th win of the season (13-4). He is now 12 saves away from tying his own single-season record of 206.

UP NEXT
The Comets survive and advance to face 2nd-seeded John Carroll in the OAC Semifinals on Wednesday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m.