FREDERICKSBURG, VA (February 23, 2008)—Tigers' sophomore midfielder Andrew O'Shea (Richmond, VA/Collegiate) scored two goals and notched two assists to help Hampden-Sydney's lacrosse team open the 2008 season with a 5-2 victory over Mary Washington on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers erased an early one goal deficit to take a 3-1 halftime advantage and used stingy defense to earn the victory. Senior goalkeeper Phil Hage (Norfolk, VA/Norfolk Academy) spearheaded the defensive effort, registering six saves in 16 shots faced. The Tigers improve to 1-0, while the Eagles fall to 0-1 after the inaugural contest of the season for both squads.

Mary Washington gained the advantage just 1:12 into the first period, as Charlie White found the back of the net on an unassisted goal. Hampden-Sydney answered at the six minute mark on a man-up opportunity when O'Shea found junior Doug Carpenter (Baltimore, MD/St. Paul's) for the Tigers' first goal of the contest and a 1-1 score at the end of the first 15 minutes.

Hampden-Sydney extended their lead to two goals by halftime on a shorthanded strike by sophomore midfielder Kyle Jett (Suffolk, VA/Nanesmond Suffolk) and a goal with :01 remaining in the half from senior midfielder Joe Daugherty (Charlottesville, VA/St. Anne's-Belfield) off another assist by O'Shea.

The Tigers took a 4-1 edge late in the third period on O'Shea's first goal of the afternoon, an unassisted effort with 1:04 to play in the stanza. After the Eagles' Brent Fisk found the net to cut the Hampden-Sydney advantage to 4-2 in the fourth period, O'Shea connected for the final time with 8:35 to play, re-establishing the Tigers' three goal cushion at 5-2. Great defense would carry Hampden-Sydney the rest of the way and ensure the Tigers their opening day victory.

Hampden-Sydney out-shot Mary Washington 29-16 on the afternoon while the Eagles held a slight advantage in groundballs (30-28). Tigers' senior defenseman Colin Dunn (Chevy Chase, MD/Trinity Pawling) picked up five groundballs to lead Hampden-Sydney while sophomore midfielder Whit Kelley (Raleigh, NC/Ravenscroft) won 3-of-4 face offs in the win.

Hampden-Sydney will participate in their first home game of the season on Saturday, March 1, as the Tigers host national No. 2 Gettysburg College. The game is scheduled for 1 pm.