West Caldwell, N.J. - Despite scoring the game-tying goal with one second remaining in the fourth quarter on Wednesday afternoon, the St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Lacrosse team suffered a 9-8 overtime defeat at the hands of Caldwell University at Essex Valley Field.

STAC drops to 4-8 on the season, while Caldwell improves to 2-4 with the victory in extra time.

Joseph Casarella paced the Spartans' offense with five goals, while Michael Huff tallied two goals and John Morris added a goal. Goalie Craig Peavy (L, 4-8) went the distance for the maroon and gold and stopped 7 of 16 shots faced.

Meanwhile, Caldwell was led by Jayden Paladino, who tallied four goals, while Jason Staudte added two goals and an assist and Owen Tarnowski scored two goals. Zakkery Glatfelter (1 goal) also contributed to the Cougars' victory. Goalie Shane Murphy made seven stops on 13 shots in a little over 58 minutes of play, before being replaced by teammate Ethan Shearer, who stopped 2 of 4 shots.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• STAC opened Wednesday's match with back-to-back goals, courtesy of Joseph Casarella and John Morris to make 2-0 with just under nine minutes to play in the first quarter.
• The host Cougars struck for their first goal of the day on a Zakkery Glatfelter tally to cut the deficit to 2-1 through the first 15 minutes of action.
• Jayden Paladino would tie the game at 2-2, opening the second quarter with his first goal of the afternoon.
• Michael Huff quickly answered for the Spartans to make it a 3-2 game for the maroon and gold.
• Consecutive goals by Caldwell's Owen Tarnowski and Jayden Paladino gave the hosts their first lead of the day at 4-3.
• A Joseph Casarella tally with five minutes to play before halftime, knotted up the match at 4-4 and would be the last goal before the teams headed to their respective benches for the short break.
• When the teams returned for the third quarter, Michael Huff would immediately put the Spartans back in the lead at 5-4 on a man-down goal.
• Caldwell then retook the lead on consecutive goals from Jayden Paladino and Owen Tarnowski to make it 6-5.
• A helter skelter fourth quarter would ensue between the sides, with the Cougars striking first on Jayden Paladino's fourth of the afternoon to take a 7-5 advantage.
• Joseph Casarella would then answer with his third of the day to cut the Spartans' disadvantage to just one at 7-6.
• However, Jason Staudte would find the back of the net for the Cougars moments later to put them back up by two, 8-6.
• In the final two minutes of regulation, it would be the Joseph Casarella show, scoring his fourth and fifth goals of the game, including a tally with one second remaining on the clock to tie the match at 8-8 and send it to overtime.
• The extra session would belong to Caldwell, as Jason Staudte would score the game-winner, his second of the day, to take a 9-8 victory.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE: 

• STAC outshot Caldwell 35-31 (17-16 on goal) for the game.
• Joseph Casarella and Michael Huff each tallied a team-high eight shots, with five going on net for St. Thomas Aquinas.
• Austin Palen combined to gather eight of the Spartans 18 ground balls.
• Reno Molina caused two Cougars turnovers on the afternoon.
• STAC won 17 of 19 faceoffs, with Austin Palen winning 14-of-16 draws and JT Perry taking 3-of-3.

UP NEXT:

STAC visits Mercy University on Saturday, March 30 for a 11:00 a.m. East Coast Conference match in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.