Buena Vista, VA - In an electrifying match that went down to the wire, the Southern Virginia men's lacrosse team clinched their first victory of the season against Southwestern University in a thrilling 17-16 double-overtime showdown.

The game started with the Pirates establishing an early lead by netting two consecutive goals. However, the Knights quickly responded with Peyton Merwin breaking through to put Southern Virginia on the scoreboard. Following another goal by Southwestern, the Knights managed to level the score at 3-3, thanks to Zak Sullivan and Gabe King each finding the back of the net within a minute of each other. The first quarter concluded with the Knights edging ahead to a 6-5 lead, courtesy of additional goals from King, Sullivan, and Clay Haacke.

As the second quarter unfolded, both teams' offenses exploded, exchanging goals back and forth. Sullivan, JT Cutrer, Michael Brown, and King all contributed to the Knights' tally, securing a 10-8 lead with just seven minutes left in the half. The Pirates, however, mounted a comeback, scoring three quick goals to retake the lead. Cutrer managed to draw the game level with a spectacular buzzer-beater, tying the score at 11-11 as halftime approached.

The third quarter saw the Pirates taking control initially, scoring three consecutive goals. Yet, King and Haacke were able to narrow the gap to just one goal as the game moved into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter appeared grim for Southern Virginia, as they struggled to create scoring opportunities and found themselves trailing 16-13 with only six minutes to go. Nevertheless, the Knights showcased their resilience with Davis Grant and Porter Wells scoring to bring the game within one. In a dramatic turn of events, a disrupted pass ended up with King, who assisted Sullivan for a goal with merely 3 seconds left, pushing the game into overtime tied at 16-16.

The first overtime period was tense, with both teams firing off four shots each but failing to score, leading to a second overtime. It didn't take long for the Knights to seal the victory in double overtime, as King netted his fifth goal of the game, clinching the win for Southern Virginia.

King concluded the match with a remarkable tally of five goals and four assists, totaling nine points, while Sullivan added four goals from just seven shots.

Riding on the wave of this dramatic victory, the Knights are set to carry their momentum into their next game against Grove City College in Pennsylvania on Saturday, March 9th, with the face-off scheduled for 11:00 AM.

For the most up-to-date details on the team, follow @knight_mlax on Instagram and visit knightathletics.com.