The Lancaster Bible clawed and scratched its way back into Saturday's game against SUNYIT on several different occasions and then owned the big moment at the end of the game when junior Josiah Groff scored with just over 12 minutes to play to give the Chargers a 3-2 victory over the Wildcats at Charger Field. The win ups Lancaster Bible's record to 9-5-1 overall and 5-2-1 in North Eastern Athletic Conference play.

SUNYIT's Bazo Coulibaly opened the scoring just 54 seconds into the game as he scored into the right-hand corner of the net. The score remained 1-0 through halftime as the teams went back-and-forth. The Chargers outshot the Wildcats, 10-6 in the first, but could not find the back of the net. Just over six minutes into the second however, Nathan Grimley scored his second goal of the season as he converted a penalty kick. 

The Wildcats would answer with their own penalty kick conversion 13 minutes later when Nick McBride made it 2-1 SUNYIT with his second goal of the season. The lead would not even last a minute however as Lancaster Bible's Enoc Navarette scored 39 seconds later as he blasted a shot into the upper right-hand corner off a feed from Darrell Goff. The two seniors celebrated Senior Day in a big way as the Chargers tied the game and took back the momentum.

"Enoc's goal was fantastic," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Tom Ardt said. "He really got us back into the game and I was happy to see the guys rise to the occasion when we needed it."

The Chargers controlled play after Navarette's strike and were rewarded at the 77:59 mark when Groff got the ball in the box and dribbled to the right of the goal and was able to bank the ball in off of a SUNYIT defender and past Wildcats goalkeeper Jesse Yanarella.

SUNYIT had a few chances in the final minutes, including one that just missed the goal, but could not tie the game.

"Today was just a great team win," Ardt said. "We played with composure, which is a big goal of ours."

The Chargers are in a good position to qualify for the NEAC playoffs, something they haven't done since the 2011 season, but still need to play well and possibly earn a point next weekend in New York. Ardt said the guys need to be focused on next weekend starting with Monday's practice.

"We need to have a great week of practice if we are going to go to New York next weekend and be successful," Ardt said. "We are going to play two good teams in Wells and Keuka and can't be satisfied with what we have done so far."

Ardt knows the rigors of traveling to upstate in New York in October all-to-well as the Chargers went to Morrisville State and Cazenovia last season with a chance to make the playoffs and allowed eight goals in two games en route to two losses.

Saturday's win at home however proved that this is a different Lancaster Bible squad, one that can find a way to win even when it doesn't look good. Another fact is the Chargers are 4-2-1 on the road this season after going just 1-7 last year.

Lancaster Bible is slated to face Wells on Friday at 4 p.m. in Aurora, N.Y. 

Notes:
-In addition to honoring Goff and Navarette before the game for Senior Day, the Chargers also recognized senior Zac Bonomo and senior manager Michael Colona.

-Saturday's win was the first over SUNYIT for the Chargers who are now 1-3-1 all-time against the Wildcats.