April 13, 2004
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army’s John Walker shot from eight yards out with approximately 10 seconds left, but was turned away by 51³Ô¹ÏÍø goalkeeper Andrew Jarolimek (Silverthorne, Colo.) as the Raiders ran out the clock to surprise No. 9 Army, 12-11, at rain-soaked Shea Stadium Tuesday night in a key Patriot League contest.
Army (8-3/3-2 PL) trailed by two with 41 seconds remaining when 51³Ô¹ÏÍø (7-5/3-2) was called for a holding violation. Walker converted off a pass from Jake Couch with 27 ticks left to draw the Black Knights within striking distance and Army won the ensuing faceoff. Walker dove in off the wing and scooped up the grounder, making a mad dash for the Raiders’ net. The sophomore attackman shot low, but Jarolimek made an impressive save to seal the win for 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.
Army scored with 2:39 to go in the fourth quarter to pull within one, 11-10. The Black Knights then forced a turnover off a double team behind their own cage, but an unforced error led to a loose ground ball that 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Ramsey Brame (West Hartford, Conn.) picked up at Army’s restraining line. He walked in and easily gave the Raiders a two-goal advantage, which proved to be the game-winner.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Jeff Vander Meulen (Liverpool, N.Y.) along with Brame led the Raiders with three goals and one assist each. Rob Ryan (Manhasset, N.Y.) contributed two goals and an assist to the victory, while Rob Trasolini (New Hyde Park, N.Y.), Brendan Hurley (West Islip, N.Y.), Brian Robinson (Denver, Colo.), and Andrew Houston (Short Hills, N.J.) each notched a goal of their own.
Junior Eddie Brennan (Hillsborough, Calif.) registered two assists. Reid Diamond (Boston, Mass.) and Peter Whitcomb (Denver, Colo.) each made their mark with a helper in the upset. Houston led the team with six ground balls on the night.
Jarolimek was the star of the game, making several point-blank range stops on the Black Knights. He finished with 13 saves. Matt Darak made 12 saves for Army.
The win puts the Raiders into a tie for third place with Army and keeps them in the running for a Patriot League Tournament berth. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø is back in action on Tuesday April 20 as it faces Lehigh in the Raiders’ final home game at 7 p.m.