Tech Falls just Short in Epic Comeback!

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets faced off against the Utah Valley Wolverines in the quarterfinal round of the MCLA National Tournament on Tuesday in the fourth match up of the two teams since 2020.  The Wolverines came in with revenge on their mind after the Jackets defeated them 18-6 in Utah in 2023. 

The Wolverines started the game with a high level of intensity that their program is known for and built a 6-0 lead before the Jackets finally got on the board.  Unfortunately ,the goal did not stop the onslaught from the Wolverines.  The Jackets eventually dug themselves a 12-1 hole at halftime.  The Jackets went into halftime dazed at having their prolific offense held to one goal in the half while the whole team was outworked all over the field. 

Rather than throwing in the towel or pointing fingers at each other, the Jackets found each other.  The Jackets scored on their first three shots of the second half getting goals from Matt Seifert, Asher Wagnon, and Brooks Baro.  The Wolverines responded with a goal of their own following a broken stick for the Yellow Jackets on the ensuing faceoff.  Less than a minute later Pierce Quarles scored a goal for the Jackets followed by another from Baro.  Quarles added another goal before finding Michael Grosso in transition following a successful penalty kill to bring the score to 13-8 with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter.  The Jacket bench had come to life at this point and when Ben Skopicki pushed the following faceoff forward and fed Brooks Baro for a goal seven seconds after the prior goal, the bench erupted as the small shred of hope had bloomed into full belief.  The Wolverines, attempting to reach their first ever MCLA semi-final, would not relent either and responded a few seconds later.  Nick Eliacin dodged and made his way through multiple holds by the UVU defenders before firing home a shot to bring the Jackets back within four.  Pierce Quarles scored on an extra man goal less than a minute later before Brooks Baro scored another goal to pull the Jackets within two.  The Jackets went on an 11-2 run in the third quarter to bring the game within reach going into the fourth quarter.  Tech played the complementary lacrosse that Jacket fans have become accustomed to seeing with the defense snuffing out the Wolverine scoring opportunities and goalie Peter Zagrobelny turning away the shots that did get through.  Ben Skopicki and Ryan Menghi were crucial at the faceoff dot to keep feeding the Jacket offense.  Offensively, Tech found their rhythm and played with a flow for the first time all evening.

The fourth quarter started with the Jackets man-down due to slashing penalty.  Zagrobelny once again made a huge save and the Jackets cleared the ball before drawing a flag of their own.  Quarles fed Joseph Rose inside for the extra man goal to pull the Jackets within one.  For the next several minutes the Jackets created several good opportunities, but could not finish as they hit several posts and the Wolverine goalie made multiple impressive saves.  UVU added two goals to stretch the lead back to three.  Baro struck once again to pull the Jackets within two, but the Wolverines scored a goal as the shot clock expired to stretch the lead back to three.  The Jackets despite the incredible effort could not complete the comeback. 

The Jackets showed incredible fight in their rally back from being down 12-1, but the hole was simply too deep.    The Jackets ended their season with a 14-4 record and a second consecutive SELC Championship and their eighth consecutive appearance in the MCLA National Tournament.  Tech will say goodbye to a strong group of seniors, but will continue their quest for their first national championship.