AC: Seattle Draws Vegas Elite After Late Goal Waived Off

By Kevin Brereton
WSL Special Correspondent

SAN DIEGO -- The Seattle Starz Elite and Vegas Starz Elite played to a 3-3 draw in an Adrenaline Challenge Elite Division Group 2 game Saturday afternoon in a game with a highly controversial finish.

Seattle senior attackman Jeff Tungsvik scored what appeared to be the game-winning goal with seconds to play after taking a behind-the-back pass from senior attackman Ryan Deal. However, the goal, which initially set off an exuberant celebration on the Seattle sideline, was waived off after the ensuing face-off, because the referees ruled time had expired before the shot.

At the Adrenaline Challenge, there is a central horn that signals the end of the game on all 10 fields, and game officials said afterward they didn’t hear it.

The result was fortunate in more ways than one for Vegas, which was outshot by Seattle, 31-15. With the draw, both teams are 1-0-1 and tied for second place in Group 2, a half-game behind Austin ATX (2-0).

For Seattle, Deal finished with a goal and an assist, and junior middie Foster Wisman dished two assists.

For Vegas, junior attackman Mason Garrett scored twice, senior defenseman Johnny Nitti had a goal and junior middie Harrison Krueger added an assist.

The teams played more than 16 minutes of scoreless lacrosse before Garrett gave Vegas a 1-0 lead on an unassisted goal. Seattle equalized when junior attackman Peter Christiansen scored with 30 seconds to play in the half.

Vegas scored twice over the first 18 minutes to take a 3-1 lead, but Seattle answered in the final seven minutes.

“We ran out of steam,” Vegas head coach Gary Campo said. “We had a chance. I feel very fortunate.”

Senior goalie Matthew Smith saved four shots in the second half after Seattle peppered the Vegas cage with 17 shots in the final 25 minutes. He said the controversial game-ending call was fortunate.

“We got lucky,” Smith said. “Our defense pulled through. I told the defense to watch the outside shots and right side shots. Our offense is going to have to pull it together a little bit more.”