BETHANY, W.V. – The Holy Family University men's lacrosse team outscored Bethany 7-0 in the fourth quarter to force overtime with two last minute goals, only to fall to the Bison 12-13 in the program's first match on Friday night. 
 
The Tigers were down 3-11 midway through the third and 5-12 entering the fourth before making their move, beginning with four goals in the first 6:28. 
 
After seven and a half minutes of scoreless play, Julian Definis (Glendora, N.J./Triton Regional) netted twice in the span of 20 seconds, the second assisted by Maxx Covely (Somerdale, N.J./Highland) with 36 seconds on the clock, to tie the game for the first time since it was 2-2 early in the second.  
 
Bryce Thomas (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter Strasburg) then made a save in the final seconds to force overtime.
 
Ben Blair (Rochester, N.Y./Penfield) won the faceoff to start the extra period, leading to HFU registering the first shot, but Bethany would force a stop before scoring its first goal in over 18 minutes for the win. 
 
Individual Highlights

• Definis tied a game-high with four goals, while leading the Tigers with three caused turnovers
• Fellow freshman James Bienia (East Moriches, N.Y./Westhampton Beach) also netted a hat trick in his collegiate debut, including scoring the program's first-ever goal to open the scoring
• Blair tied for a game-high with 12 ground balls as he won 16-of-28 faceoffs
• Covely registered four points via two goals and two assists, while Brent McColligan (Bellmawr, N.J./Triton Regional) also found the net twice
• Thomas saved over the half of the shots he faced, making 15 stops

 
Inside the Box Score

•  Holy Family held a slight 39-38 edge in shots

 
How It Happened

• Definis found Bienia for the program's first goal 4:12 in, before doubling HFU's lead with 6:57 remaining in the first quarter
• Bethany got on the board 49 seconds later, and the Bison knotted the score in the final minute of the inaugural period
• They then outscored the Tigers 0-6 in the second
• Bienia began the second half with his second goal, set up by Adam Camille (Providence, R.I./La Salle Academy), but Bethany responded with three unanswered for a game-high 3-11 advantage midway through the third
• McColligan and Covely started the comeback in the back-end of the third, but the Bison closed the penultimate period by re-establishing a seven-goal cushion
• Camille and McColligan began the fourth with scores 20 seconds apart, before Covely and Definis later netted goal 33 seconds apart, all in the opening 5:46 of the fourth
• Bienia then tallied the final goal until the final minute with 8:32 to go

 
Up Next
Holy Family remains in West Virginia to take on Wheeling on Sunday at 1 p.m.