GREAT FALLS, Mont. – In the team's first home game of the season, University of Providence played a tight game against University of Northern Colorado but ultimately lost 14-13 in overtime. UP outshot the Bears, had a better clear percentage, won more ground balls, and dominated faceoffs, but an outstanding performance from UNC's goalkeeper kept the game close throughout.
 
While the game was close, it was also a game of runs. Each time with on three separate runs of 3 goals to none. The last of those runs came from UP in the fourth quarter that turned a 2 goal deficit into a 1 goal lead with 4 minutes left.
 
With just under 10 minutes left in regulation, the Bears had all the momentum and a 12-10 advantage. UP stopped the bleeding at 9:19 with a solo goal from junior middie Kobe Johnson and proceeded to go regain the lead by leaning on big goals from rare goal scorers.
 
Johnson's goal gave him 6 on the year, with 1 of those coming in the first quarter of the game. His scoring effort was by four minutes of scoreless play that saw both teams take part in a turnover party. It was second line middie Rick Cook who finally put another point on the board. The senior finished on a bouncing shot released while driving down the right ally to tie the game at 12-12 with five minutes left.
 
UP's Turner Maza won the ensuing faceoff and in the scramble, a UNC played lost is balance while trying to stay in the defensive half and ended up serving a 30-second penalty for offsides. Just as that player was running on to the field to even the numbers, freshman defender Tommy West, who was played as a part of UP's man-up offense with a long pole, took a long wind up from 20 yards out and scored to give the Argos the lead.
 
The Argos were able to defend that lead for two minutes, but with 2:05 on the clock, the Bears tied it up. Another faceoff win for UP, this time from sophomore Dante Duran, gave the team a chance at a game-winner in regulation. The Argos did well to wind the clock down, but just as the offensive moved into action with a stall warning on, they turned the ball over.
 
It was then the Bear's chance to get the win in regulation. They took 1 shot and missed and the game went into overtime.
 
Since UNC had possession when the fourth quarter ended, the Bears got to start with the ball in sudden death overtime. UP's junior goalkeeper, Jeremy Smith, made a big save on Northern Colorado's first shot attempt, but UNC also picked up the ground ball and their next effort got past Smith to end the game at 14-13.
 
If not for an excellent performance from UNC's goalkeeper Steve Karsten the game likely wouldn't have required overtime. UP outshot the Bears 50-40 in the game, but Karsten came away with 24 saves to keep his team within 3 goals or less at any given point in the game.
 
The largest lead of the game was UP's and it came in the first 6 minutes of the game. UP started the contest with 3 unanswered goals, starting with the second of the year from senior attack Jordan Daugherty.
 
As has been the case for most of the year, senior attack Josh Smith led UP in scoring, with 4 goals, but those came off of almost half of the team's 50 total shots. Overall, the team's scoring was as balanced as its been all year. In total, eight different Argos scored at least 1 goal, including 2 from Daugherty, 2 from Johnson, and the first of the year for sophomore Matt Woods.
 
While all of those performances were needed, Jeremy Smitha and Dante Duran put in the day's best. Smith couldn't quite match the 24 saves that Karsten posted but still managed an excellent 18 saves in the game. Duran, on the other hand, went 20-27 from the faceoff X, while leading the team with 10 grounds balls and 3 assists.
 
The loss puts the Argo's record at 3-8 (3-1) but since UNC is a non-conference opponent it won't hurt the team's playoff standing. Next for UP will be the team's seventh ranked opponent of the season, (21)  University  of Colorado Denver on Sunday, April 15 at 10 a.m. on Argo Field.