LYNCHBURG, VA (May 2, 2006) – With just 1:36 remaining on the clock in a 9-9 ODAC semifinal lacrosse tournament game, sophomore Ryan Cranston snared a loose ball and made a behind the neck pass to senior Adam Gift who dished to senior Brian Kemper to score the game winning goal for Lynchburg . The victory over Hampden-Sydney (8-5/ 4-2 ODAC/ 0-1 Playoffs) advances the Hornets (13-2/5-1 ODAC/1-0 Playoffs) to the finals where they will meet the winner of the Roanoke vs. W&L either on Saturday or Sunday.

The Tigers took a 7-5 halftime lead, but Lynchburg scored all three goals of the third period to take an 8-7 lead. Hampden-Sydney's Michael Via (Virginia Beach, VA/ Norfolk Academy)found William Shell (Alexandria, VA/ St. Stephen's) twice early in the fourth period to give H-SC a 9-8 lead with 10:33 left in the game. The Hornets' Ryan Quick scored from Adam Gift at the 5:52 mark to knot the score, and Gift fed Kemper for the game-winner. Hampden-Sydney had the ball in the closing seconds, but was whistled for an off-sides penalty with 13 seconds left and Lynchburg ran out the clock.

Senior Eamon Thornton (Atlanta, GA/McCallie) scored three goals in the contest as did junior midfielder William Shell. The hat trick was the fourth of the year for the Tigers and gave him the team lead on the year with 24 goals. Shell's three goal performance gives him 18 goals on the year.

For Lynchburg, freshman Tyler Tolson scored three times, while Quick posted two goals and an assist. Kemper scored twice, while Ryan Cranston and Kyle McGuire each had a goal and an assist.

Juniors Ryan Harrington (Dallas, TX/ Plano) and Thomas Jennings (Murfreesboro, TN/Webb) each had a goal and an assist. Lynchburg out-shot Hampden-Sydney 48-39, while the Tigers won 12 of the game's 21 face-offs.