Shields Up! Goalie scores, makes 19 saves for Men's Lacrosse in win at Wheeling

WHEELING, West Virginia - For the second time in as many games, the American International College men's lacrosse team had a player make history, as rookie goalkeeper Shaden Shields made 19 stops and scored the first goalie goal in program history in a 13-10 win at Wheeling University on Saturday, March 2.

AIC is now 2-0 on the season.

The Cardinals struck first, but AIC notched three goals in a 3:34 span to take a first-quarter lead, with Seven Gillingham, Jack Bamford, and Ryder Goodwin scoring on passes from Micaiah Boyle, Tyler Goode, and Gabe Zippin, respectively; after the first, AIC held a 3-2 advantage.

The hosts tied the game early in the second, but Boyle gave AIC back the lead 37 seconds later. The offenses slowed from there, with over eight minutes between the Boyle goal and Andrew Boyer's strike from Goode just after the 10:00 mark of the frame. Brody Fawver scored to pull Wheeling whithin one with 2:32 to play, but Carter Linkletter and Ries Bower countered with goals 15 and 27 seconds later, putting AIC ahead 7-4 at halftime.

The offenses opened up in the third, with Boyer starting the scoring in a frame that saw both teams add four to their totals; Dawson Long hit two, assisted by Linkletter and Boyle, and Callan Dent found the net on a feed from Goode. Heading to the final frame, AIC's lead was steady at 11-8

In the fourth, Hunter Terlik tickled the twine just past the five minute mark, and then magic happened.

��GOALIE GOAL ALERT! ��

Rookie keeper Shaden Shields of AIC Men's Lacrosse with the full-field-run goalie goal at Wheeling, the first in program history!@TheNortheast10 @espn @ESPNAssignDesk @NCAADII @USILA_Lax #SCTop10 #NE10Embrace #AICommitted pic.twitter.com/ZyFsMddmx1

— AIC Athletics (@aicathletics) March 2, 2024

The netminder's strike gave AIC a five-goal edge, which was more than enough; the Yellow Jackets finished with a 13-10 win. 

In addition to the goal and 19 saves, Shields snagged four ground balls and forced a turnover; Bower caused three turnovers and also scooped four ground balls, while Sean Trainor forced three changes of possession as well. Goode and Boyle led the offense with three points each, and all three of AIC's faceoff men were above 50 percent as Aiden Moscarello was 9-of-16, Michael Davis-Francis went 4-for-7, and Linkletter won his lone take. 

The Yellow Jackets continue their trip with a matchup against Davis and Elkins on Monday, March 4 at noon.