By Adam Chasen:
WASHINGTON, DC - In a battle between lacrosse powers from the two top conferences in the metro area, more was at stake than just a win. For Gonzaga and Georgetown Prep the game represented the hard work of the players, coaches, alumnus, and boosters that have all had a part in building up the nationally ranked teams. Gonzaga, trying hard to establish themselves as equals alongside IAC King's, Prep and Landon, fought back from an early deficit and built up a 6-3 lead late in the final quarter, but Prep amazingly tied up the game to force overtime. In the overtime, it was Prep's junior middie Jack Cleary, who buried the sudden death winner to give the away team a 7-6 victory.

Liam Giblin set up his Prep teammate Cory Dobyns just two minutes into the game to give Prep an early 1-0 lead. Gonzaga answered back five minutes later with Sean Whitcomb combining with David Planning on a nice passing play, that Planning buried into the back of the net to tie the score.

The second quarter became very physical as the two teams traded hits. Gonzaga's Matt Borda excelled in his role as an enforcer on the field, but Prep answered with strong play from their own longstick defenseman Jeff Hale, who had some highlight hits of his own.
Prep's Joel Blockowicz scored to give his team another one goal advantage, but Gonzaga's Matt Bowman would answer right back to tie things up once again. The combination of Liam Giblin and Dobyns found a soft spot for the second time in the game, to push Prep ahead 3-2.

With less than a minute remaining in the first half, Gonzaga sophomore Alex Corboy found a loose ball just behind the net and beat Prep goalie Ford Martin on the wrap around to even the score 3-3 entering the half.

Unexpectedly, Gonzaga owned much of the second half, scoring three straight goals in the third period. Connor Reid got the goal scoring started with a crease crashing highlight, and then Corboy stepped up once again. Corboy scored his second and third goals of the game in less than a three minute span, pumping up the raucous Gonzaga crowd and his teammates. Gonzaga held onto the 6-3 lead entering the fourth.

Prep senior Bobby Gribbin had fired several long range bounce shots throughout the game, but Gonzaga sophomore goalie Timmy Farrell handled them all with ease. As time began to work against Prep, they desperately needed to cut into the three goal deficit.

Gribbin received a pass more than 20 yards from the net and fired a bounce shot. Farrell, dealing with a multiple screens in front never saw the ball as it bounced past him for Prep's 4th goal.

Less than four and a half minutes remained and Prep needed two more goals just to force overtime. Gonzaga still seemed to be in the advantage, but Gribbin's goal gave new life to Prep, and they used every bit the clock to build their comeback.

Thirty seconds after the Gribbin strike, Liam Giblin was involved again. While camped out just behind the net, Giblin waited as Farrell handled the ball in his crease. Both Gonzaga and Prep players rushed back to the opposite end of the field awaiting a Farrell long clear, except for the crafty Giblin. When Farrell stepped forward to clear, just outside the crease, Giblin looked to get a piece of the action and knocked the ball directly back into the Gonzaga net. Later, it was learned that a string had broken in Farrell's stick pocket, allowing the ball to fall out of the back and into his net. With only four minutes remaining Prep found themselves only down one goal 6-5 after the unusual score.

Knowing that they may need a 7th goal to hold on for the win, Gonzaga attacked offensively, but missed out on two clear opportunities to score. As happens so often, when one team misses out on an opportunity the other often takes advantage.

With only a minute and a half left, Joel Blockowicz received a pass right after a restart due to a timeout. Blockowicz had pressure on him, but he ripped a 20 yard shot, head high and into the net to tie the game. The Prep fan base and sideline erupted, realizing they were only a minute away from reaching overtime.

In the overtime, both teams displayed patience, working the ball around to look for an opportunity to attack. As time ran down Prep held onto the ball and with 36 seconds left, Jack Cleary found a way to score for Prep and give them the sudden death win.

Prep rushed the field in celebration, while Gonzaga knows they played well enough to beat their rival and a traditional power that is currently ranked as high as number three in the country. None the less, Gonzaga showed, even in a loss, they are now a program that can beat anyone and will be a force each and every year.