MACON, Ga.—The Bellarmine Knights lacrosse team held the lead over the host Mercer Bears for a grand total 86 seconds, but it came at just the right time--the final moments of the game--as Bellarmine pulled out a 12-11 victory in a Southern Conference game in Five Star Stadium.
 
Finding themselves in a five-goal deficit with their postseason hopes fading away early in the third quarter, Bellarmine fought back with a quick 3-0 run to get back in contention and then completed the comeback when Tucker Ciessau completed a pass from near the endline to Morgan Macko, who buried the game-winning shot with just 1:26 remaining.
 
In addition to delivering the game-winning assist, Ciessau turned in a highlight reel-filling performance, finishing with three goals and two assists. The first of his three goals came on a behind-the-back, over-the-shoulder shot, and the senior later added a back-handed rifle shot that found the back of the net. With his two assists, Ciessau—already BU's all-time leading scorer—takes over the No. 3 position on the career assist list with 41.
 
In all, three Knights registered hat tricks with Macko and Stephen Votto also tallying three goals on the day.
 
Freshman goalie Jordan Dondoyano also stepped up in a big way for the Knights with 13 saves as Mercer fired 24 shots on goal compared to Bellarmine's 20. Dondoyano's final save prevented a potential go-ahead score with 2:08 in the game and help set up the Knights' game-winning possession.
 
Mercer and Bellarmine traded goals early, but the Bears scored the final four goals of the first half to take a 7-3 advantage at intermission. They upped their lead to five just 1:51 into the third period.
 
However, goals by Ian Miller, Votto and Ciessau helped keep the game from being a runaway. Mercer inched its lead back up to four with a pair of goals, but Macko's score with just three seconds remaining in the third period helped the Knights stay within striking distance at 10-7.
 
Bellarmine then opened the fourth quarter with three unanswered goals as Ciessau's score with 7:02 knotted the game at 10 apiece. 
 
The Knights had precious little time to celebrate as Mercer's Kevin Yoggy scored just 40 second later to give the lead back to the Bears. This time, it was Bellarmine with the quick strike as Turner Lockyear won the ensuing face off, scooped up the ground and delivered a pass to Tanner Barco, who nailed the shot with 6:14 on the clock.
 
Over the next 4:06, the Bears got off five shots with one being off target and Dondoyano making four saves, the last leading to BU's game-winner.
 
After Macko's goal gave BU the 12-11 lead, the Knights won the ensuing face off and got a time out. Mercer pulled its goalie to increase defensive pressure, and the gamble paid off when Bellarmine misfired on a shot at the open net and possession went over to the Bears with 33 seconds remaining. Mercer managed to get off a shot that sailed wide with 15 ticks left on the clock. The Bellarmine defense then stifled the Bears for the remaining time to preserve the victory.
 
Bellarmine improves to 4-8 overall and sees its SoCon record even at 3-3 on the year. Mercer falls to 4-8 and ends its postseason hopes by slipping to 1-5 in league play.
 
The Knights are now alone in fourth place in the SoCon standings and can sew up a spot in the four-team postseason conference tournament with a win over Jacksonville on Saturday. That game is scheduled for noon at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium with senior day activities planned for pregame.
 
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