Finals Bound: Madison Stops W. Essex in Semifinal OT Thriller

The last time the Madison High School lacrosse team faced West Essex, the Dodgers needed extra time, winning a 9-8 triple overtime thriller on May 14. In its state semifinal game on Saturday in Madison, the Dodgers would again need extra time, as senior middie Will Stuhler scored his only goal of the game getting the Dodgers an 8-7 OT win, sending them to the state finals for the first time in three years.

"I didn't score at all during the game, and I really wanted to put one in and help the team," Stuhler said after the game. "I got the ball, so I just went for it. I saw an opening, took the shot and it went in."

While Madison was able to stay close throughout the game–led by a terrific defensive effort that held the Knights to just four goals through the first three quarters–the offense had trouble solving a hardnosed West Essex defense.

"Our defense plays tough and gets after them," head coach Mark Sweeney said after the win. "I've said it all year, our defense in very athletic and they get after people. I don't think we played our best offensive game, I look back to [the win against Kinnelon] and we were moving, but today we were a little more stagnant."

But in the fourth quarter with the score tied, 4-4, the West Essex offense took control, dominating the time of possession for the first five minutes of the quarter.

The Knights wouldn't squander the opportunity, jumping out to a late two-goal lead with goals from Tom Martin and attacker Joe Fusco.

But just as Dodger fans have become used to seeing, the Madison offense –feeling the pressure- suddenly came to life with six minutes remaining.

Junior Colin McLinden ripped a shot from just over ten yards out that screamed past West Essex goalie Mike Wiatrak, getting Madison within one goal.

"That was a big goal. We were down by two and to get the momentum back, I knew we needed a goal," said McLinden, who finished the game with one goal and four assists. "Our offense sometimes comes out slow, but once we get going, our offense is really, really good."

Just over one minute later, sophomore attacker Billy Battaglia got the Dodgers even with his second goal of the day, this one on a terrific pass from captain Austen Lein.

Lein finished the day with one goal and two assists.

The Madison offense wasn't finished, though, as after a Lein shot bounced off the West Essex crossbar–releasing a sigh of relief from the West Essex bleachers–captain Charlie Oldendorp scored his third goal to give the Dodgers a 7-6 advantage.

But with three minutes remaining in the quarter, West Essex came on the offensive.

After Madison goalie Brett Anton made a great save, stopping a shot from Fusco, it looked like Madison may hold onto the one goal advantage.

"Both goalies [Ryan Colwell and Anton] have bought into it," Sweeney said speaking about his two-goalie setup. "They're one goalie. There's not even a choice of who's going in the first half and second half, they know. They both do a great job."

But the Knights' Martin had different ideas, as he scored a goal with under two minutes remaining to tie the game at 7-7 and send it into overtime.

The sudden death period wouldn't last long, though, as Stuhler scored the game winner just two minutes into the extra frame, advancing the Dodgers to Wednesday's state finals.

"Crazy Stuff. A triple OT game and an OT game against them," Sweeney said. "They're a good team. They have great athletes, they have defensive athletes, a good goalie and good offensive players that give you problems…We're happy to get to that next level. It's fun."