Springfield's Dylan Sheehan scored with 2:40 remaining in the third overtime, helping the Pride slip past Middlebury 11-10 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship Wednesday on Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium. The ninth-ranked Panthers finish another successful season at 12-7, while Springfield (12-7) advances to the second round to face St. Lawrence on Saturday.

These teams also played a close game during the regular season, as Middlebury earned a 10-8 victory on the road.

The Panthers opened the scoring 2:03 into the contest when Tim Giarrusso scored from close range with a high shot. After Jack Gould made it a two-goal difference for Middlebury, the Panthers got a lift on the defensive side of the ball. Springfield won the ensuing faceoff and Tom Hurley quickly fired a shot at the cage, but goalie Will Ernst made a nice save. Middlebury quickly executed a successful clear and in the process, earned a man-up opportunity after the Pride were flagged for a penalty. The Panthers took advantage with extra man when Gould scored (3-0) via an assist by Kyle Soroka with 4:41 on the clock. 

In the second quarter, Springfield netted its first goal of the game with 8:16 remaining on a high shot from Brendan Dooley. It took Middlebury 46 seconds to get the goal back when J.P. Miller whipped a low shot into the back of the net for his first tally of the spring, making it a 4-1 margin.

The Pride netted the final two goals of the second frame with Dylan Sheehan (5:44) and Ty Daugstrup (1:36) each getting on the scoreboard. Daugstrup's goal pulled the guests to within 4-3 at the half.

Sheehan and Tony LaGuerre each scored in the first four minutes of the third quarter, as the Pride took their first lead of the game at 5-4.

Middlebury jumped back in front with two goals in a span of 1:20. Giarrusso rifled a shot from the right wing to tie the score, while Soroka put the hosts back in the lead with an unassisted tally with 8:34 left in the period.

Springfield's Duncan Preston tied the game at 6-6, but the Panthers had a quick answer. John Jackson won the faceoff for the Panthers, raced toward the cage and netted his third of the season just six seconds after the guests pulled even.

The Pride countered 23 seconds later, knotting the score at 7-7 when Hurley scored from the right side after taking a feed from Sheehan. Sheehan tallied the quarter's final goal with 2:44 on the clock on a high shot from the right wing for an 8-7 advantage.

 Gould netted his third goal of the game 1:07 into the fourth quarter, tying the game at 8-8, but Springfield scored back-to-back goals for a two-goal edge.

Middlebury crept to within a goal with 4:22 left in regulation when Gould put a low shot through traffic from 12-yards out. Sean Carroll tied the game at 10-10 with 1:18 remaining as the Panthers were in transition, setting up overtime.

In the first extra four-minute period, Sheehan wired a shot off of the cross bar just past the midway point for the best scoring chance.

Each team had a quality chance in the second overtime, as Hurley fired high from close range for the Pride. Carroll had his bid to win from the top of the crease denied by Springfield goalie Jake Reynolds.

The Pride cashed in on its first possession of the third overtime, as Sheehan took a short pass Daugstrup five yards from the top of the crease and tucked in the game-winning goal.

Gould topped the Panthers with four goals, while Giarrusso scored twice and assisted on another. Jackson went 15-25 on face-offs and scooped up a game-high eight ground balls, while Ernst made 12 saves.

For Springfield, Sheehan recorded five points (4g, 1a) and Dom Abate tallied once and dished out three assists. Matthew LaCroix led the Pride with six ground balls and two caused turnovers, while Reynolds registered the win with 19 saves.

Middlebury held a 50-43 edge in shots and the teams both gathered 34 ground balls. The Panthers went 1-4 in extra-man chances, while Springfield wasn't awarded any opportunities.

The Panthers have been involved in tight contests all season with 14 of 19 games being decided by three or less goals. Nine of those contests have been one-goal decisions with five of them going into overtime.