CARY - Panther Creek's boys lacrosse team erased a three-goal deficit Tuesday evening to outlast host Cary 6-5 in double overtime.

With 2:07 left in the first quarter, the Catamounts trailed 3-0, but closed the period strong with two goals in 53 seconds to pull within one.

“It was our fourth game in six days,” Panther Creek coach James Aldridge said. “So I expected us to be a little mentally sluggish. But I also expected this team to show poise and confidence. So I was pleased with the way they came back.”

The Catamounts continued to build on their late first-quarter momentum in the second. Michael Marion found the back of the net at the 9:16 mark and Peter Green made it 4-3 Panther Creek 15 seconds later.

And as the Catamounts offense gained strength, so did their defense. They held the Imps scoreless in the second quarter to preserve the one-goal lead.

Dan Werner’s goal with 5:20 left in the third quarter pushed Panther Creek’s advantage to two at 5-3, but Cary did not go away quietly. The Imps rallied with two late goals – one from Tyler Owens and the other from Louis Gomez – in the period to knot the game at 5-5 headed into the fourth quarter.

In the final period of regulation, both teams had their chances but couldn’t find the net – Cary especially.

“They got a ton of shots,” Aldridge said. “We got some saves, but we got lucky that some of those shots didn’t go in.”

“It was all about pipes,” Imps coach Scott Gordon said. “We hit lots of pipes. We have to get better at burying our shots. This is not the first time we’ve out-shot a team and lost. We got good looks, we just couldn’t capitalize.”

In the first overtime period, Cary goalie Mitch Daratony faced an onslaught of Catamounts’ shots early in the period, but was able to fight them off and preserve the tie.

“Mitch kept us in the game in overtime and even in the fourth quarter to get us to overtime,” Gordon said. “Defense is our strength, so I’m not surprised we held them scoreless for the first four minutes.”

Panther Creek’s defense was equally sound, not allowing the Imps as many quality looks as they had seen throughout the second half.

Then, finally, just 1:24 into the second overtime, Aaron Vodicka slipped the ball past Daratony for the game winner.

“Earlier in the year I don’t think we would’ve battled back like we did in this game,” Aldridge said. “That’s definitely a change I’m glad to see.”