No 9 Kennesaw State sneaks past Sailfish 9-6

This article is originally from CollegeLax.

By Jayson Schmidt

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — In a key conference game, the ninth-ranked Kennesaw State Owls used a five goal second-half to sneak past Palm Beach Atlantic, 9-6. This Saturday night matchup, frequently pestered by driving rain, was a back-and-forth game that eventually saw the Owls take the lead for good. KSU improves to 7-0, while PBA falls to 3-4 this season.

After one half of the first quarter gone by with scoreless action, Kennesaw State scored first with a transition goal by sophomore Bradley Jones. Fellow sophomore Anthony Winters added another goal just over one minute later for a 2-0 lead. With sixteen seconds remaining in the opening quarter, sophomore attackman and backup goalie Ryan Talks would cut the lead in half from a Joel Horras feed.

Following a terrific shot and goal by Kennesaw State junior Andrew Congleton, PBA answered twenty seconds later (13:38 of the 2nd quarter) when junior captain Jesse Vanatta finished another Horras feed. Goals from sophomore Bobby Hantske and one more from Vanatta allowed the Sailfish to race ahead with a 4-3 lead. KSU later tied the game, sending both teams into halftime deadlocked at four apiece.

In the third quarter, two quick goals from Owl midfielders boosted Kennesaw State into the lead before Palm Beach Atlantic could respond. Junior attackman Joe Ciringione fed Talks for his second goal of the game, trimming the lead to 6-5. Bradley Jones found his second goal of the game at 9:46, but the Sailfish answered from the faceoff, with senior Kevan Van Stone finding Ciringione at 9:39.

Nursing an 8-6 lead in the fourth quarter, Kennesaw State found the back of the net one final time immediately following a two minute illegal body check penalty. It was Bradley Jones’ third of the game and the second assist from senior attackman and All America selection Scott Schulze.