NEW LONDON, Conn. - Junior Jared Rainville (Watertown, Conn.) netted the game-winning goal with 4.8 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Connecticut College men's lacrosse team to a comeback victory over NESCAC rival Hamilton. The Camels topped the Continentals 12-11 on Saturday afternoon on a cloudy day at Silfen Field for the team's first conference win of the season.

Connecticut College (2-2, 1-1 NESCAC) trailed for the majority of the game and never held a lead until Rainville's goal just before time expired in the extra period. This was the second game-winner for the junior this season, after previously scoring an overtime goal against Endicott on March 5. 

Despite the win, the Camels got off to a slow start in the first quarter. Hamilton (2-3, 0-3 NESCAC) scored four unanswered goals in the opening 5:42, including two from Rowan Brumbaugh. Conn was finally able to get on the board on a score from sophomore Jack Tenzer (Charlotte, N.C.) with 6:53 remaining. Tenzer followed up with his second goal just over four minutes later to cut the lead to 4-2 at the conclusion of the first stanza.

Freshman JJ Ford got the Camels going in the second quarter with a score off an assist by classmate Aidan McAvoy, but the Continentals tallied three straight goals in the ensuing four minutes to extend the lead for the visitors to 7-3. Not to be outdone, Connecticut College answered back with three of their own. Senior captain Patrick Linehan (Baltimore, Md.) scored off an assist from Rainville, followed by a goal from Justin Boes (Marblehead, Mass.). With time winding down in the half, Camels goaltender Will Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) tossed it downfield, which Rainville gathered on the move, and in one swift motion, shot it past the Hamilton goalie with only 13 seconds remaining. The hosts went into the break trailing 7-6.

The third quarter was much more of a defensive battle than the rest of the game. Following a Continentals' goal, Tenzer completed the hat trick to cut the lead to 8-7. The Camels pressed offensively and had several good scoring chances, but Hamilton goaltender Seamus Fagan was fantastic and held strong, making six saves in the third frame alone.

With only 15 minutes left in regulation, both teams entered the quarter with a sense of urgency. The Camels and the Continentals traded goals in the opening two minutes. With 10:14 remaining, Gus Mazzocca (West Hartford, Conn.) tied the game once again but Hamilton responded with two more goals from Brumbaugh. Trailing 11-9 with only 1:35 left, freshman Patrick Atkins found Ford for a score. The Continentals won the ensuing face off and intended to run the clock down, but sophomore Henry Cabot (Ipswich, Mass.) forced a turnover to give the Camels another chance. With less than 30 seconds left, it was up to Rainville to tie the game. The junior created space and fired a shot that Fagan was not able to save and the horn sounded at the end of regulation with an 11-11 tie.

Connecticut College won the face off to begin the golden goal format in the extra period. Freshman Declan Kuhn had a great opportunity, but Fagan made an outstanding save to give the visitors a chance. On the other end of the field, Hamilton's Matt Mirkovic also had a window to score, but Rice made a clutch save of his own. With time winding down in overtime, Rainville took the ball in the attacking area and fought through three defenders to get a shot off. The bouncing attempt was perfectly placed and Fagan could not get a stick on it as it found the back of the net. There was only 4.8 seconds left on the clock at the time of the score, giving Connecticut College an 11-10 victory.

Rainville and Brumbaugh led the game with five points each. Ford, Tenzer, and Hamilton's Britt Defeo all recorded hat tricks. Fagan was phenomenal in the net for the Continentals, making 22 saves. Rice was clutch for the Camels, stopping 11 shots.

Connecticut College will next play at Williams on Saturday, March 26.