Box | Updated stats | Longo's goal
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Senior Luke Longo scored the game-winning goal just 19 seconds into overtime Wednesday as third-seeded and visiting Nazareth rallied to stun second-seeded Ithaca, 14-13, in an Empire 8 Conference men's lacrosse playoff game at Higgins Stadium.

The goal, off a bounce shot from the top of the restraining box, improved Nazareth's overall record to 10-8 and capped a second-half comeback in which the Golden Flyers outscored the Bombers 10-5. Nazareth advances to Saturday's E8 title game at top-seeded Stevens at 12 noon. Stevens defeated Hartwick, 14-4, in the other E8 semifinal.
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Nazareth trailed 8-4 at halftime, but rallied in the second half to take leads of 11-9, 12-11 and 13-12 in the fourth quarter before Ithaca scored the game-tying goal with 1:23 left. In overtime, Seth DeLisle won the face-off, his 24th win of the game in 31 attempts, and the Golden Flyers called timeout to set up the possession. Chris Murphy started with the ball to the left of the box, sprinted in and passed to Longo, who created separation at the top of the box. His hard bounce shot caromed over the right shoulder of Ithaca goalie Justin Isaacs for the winning score.

It was Longo's second goal of the game and ninth of the season. He also had two assists. Seniors Nick Arnold and Joe Eiskant each scored three times and DeLisle scooped up a career-high 19 ground balls.

Ithaca, ranked 11th nationally and a 13-8 regular-season winner over the Golden Flyers on April 8, looked to be in control after scoring the game's first four goals and building an 8-4 halftime lead. Josh Della Puca scored four of his team-best five goals in the first half as the Bombers never trailed. Nazareth got first-half goals from Hunter Burdick, Anthony Basile, Eiskant and Longo and were within 5-4 before Ithaca scored the final three goals of the half.

On the strength of DeLisle's face-off wins, Nazareth was able to strike quickly in the third quarter to change the momentum. The Golden Flyers scored four times in the first 3:21 of the quarter to tie the score at 8-8. Eiskant and Murphy scored unassisted goals just 56 seconds apart. Then Jack Crowley scored his team-leading 31st goal off a pass from Longo. Arnold's first goal of the game tied the scored 49 seconds later.

A goal by Jack Shumway interrupted Nazareth's scoring spree, but Arnold scored again and Eiskant scored for the third time with just :05 left in the period to give Nazareth its first lead at 10-9 heading into the fourth quarter.

A goal by Paul Walter off a pass from Crowley increased the lead to two goals at 11-9, but Ithaca answered with a pair of goals just 56 seconds apart to tie the game again at 11-11. An extra-man goal by Connor Chapman enabled Nazareth to regain the lead. He later assisted on Arnold's third goal of the game with 2:38 left that gave Nazareth a 13-12 advantage.

Shumway's second goal of the game and 50th of the season tied the game for the final time with 1:23 left. Ithaca gained possession again in the closing seconds and never generated a final shot as Nazareth goalie Andrew Leahey scooped up a loose ball as time expired.

Ithaca had a 44-39 advantage in shots, but Nazareth had a 43-40 edge in ground balls. Alex Winkler started in goal for Nazareth and made four saves in the first half. Leahey came on in the second half and had five saves.

Nazareth will be shooting for its 10th Empire 8 Conference title Saturday and its 22nd NCAA Tournament bid. The Golden Flyers defeated Stevens last Saturday, 11-7, in the teams' regular-season finale.