eMADISON, N.J. – Senior Luke Bruther scored the game-winning goal 1:02 into overtime, lifting the Drew University men's lacrosse team to a 9-8 victory over Immaculata University in the first round of the Leanos Cup Friday evening in Ranger Stadium.
 
With the win, the Rangers (4-2) move into the tournament championship game to face Montclair State University in the championship game on Sunday at 3 p.m. Montclair State defeated Manhattanville University 16-8 in the other first-round game.
 
Sophomore Joe Barnish collected a career-high 18 saves, including 17 in the first half, for Drew while Bruther and senior Matt Giordano posted two goals and one assist apiece. In addition, sophomore Jake Rainero won 12-of-18 faceoffs and picked up seven ground balls.
 
Matthew Ludlow turned aside 20 shots for Immaculata (3-5) while David Azzarano posted three goals and one assist for the Mighty Macs.
 
In a thrilling finish, the Rangers took an 8-7 lead with 2:55 left when senior Colin Diodato rebounded in his own shot in front in front of the net. But Azzarano answered with 52 seconds left.
 
After senior Tommy Larmore had a potential game-winning shot saved, Barnish stood tall at the other end of the field, stopping a shot in the closing seconds to force OT.
 
Rainero won the opening faceoff in the extra session, gathering the ground ball himself before the Rangers called timeout. Bruther then rolled behind the back of the cage before bouncing in a fade shot inside the far post, threading the needle between the goalie and a defender before Drew's bench flooded the field in celebration.
 
The victory marked Drew's first overtime win since a 14-13 home triumph over Goucher on April 23, 2022.
 
Immaculata led most of the way and outscored the Rangers 4-1 to open the game. However, the Rangers began their game-ending 8-4 run by netting two of the last three goals of the first quarter to make it a 5-3 game heading into the second period. Freshman Joseph Carabetta, senior Mike DeMayo, and Bruther all scored in the first quarter.
 
The offenses simmered down in the second stanza, when the Rangers held a 2-1 advantage to pull to within 6-5 at the intermission. Giordano and Tommy Larmore each scored in the period.
 
Drew was credited with the lone goal of the third quarter, when an Immaculata defender tipped a ball into its own goal to make it 6-6.
 
Giordano gave the Rangers their first lead of the night when he struck just over a minute into the fourth quarter. Azzarano tied it for the Mighty Macs with just over 10 minutes left, and neither side scored again until Diodato's late tally.