SALEM, VA (April 29, 2009)—The fourth seeded Hampden-Sydney Tigers were on the verge of an epic upset over first-seeded and top ranked Roanoke College as the two teams were locked in an 11-11 tie with 13:06 to play in the game. The Tigers' miracle run ended just short, however, as Roanoke was able to regain the lead and hold on to advance to the ODAC Finals on Sunday.

Hampden-Sydney threw the rankings and records out the window to start the game as senior Doug Carpenter (Baltimore, MD/St. Paul's) opened up the scoring at the 11:41 mark. Roanoke did respond with a Chas Carlson goal, but junior Kyle Jett (Suffolk, VA/Nansemond-Suffolk) was there to put his team back on top 2-1. Roanoke then showed why they are the top team by reeling off three straight goals to end the quarter.

In the second quarter the Tigers proved they could keep up as the two teams traded goals back and forth for 15 minutes. Roanoke notched the first tally just two minutes in the quarter, but Micah Keller (Richmond, VA/Christchurch) fired right back just 90 seconds later. The two teams continued to trade goals with Ben Clarke (Virginia Beach, VA/Norfolk Academy) scoring two and Carpenter adding one in the period.

The Tigers recouped at halftime and came out in the third quarter beginning their comeback. After nine scoreless minutes, Jett and Carpenter tallied back to back goals to start the half tying the game at 8-8. Pat March put the Maroons up 9-8 30 seconds later, but Andrew Mahoney (Littleton, CO/Littleton)tied the game again at 9-9. Justin Tuma thought his goal with 1:29 to play in the quarter would give his team the lead going into the final stanza, but the Tigers would tie the game yet again, this time with aCarter Mavromatis (Virginia Beach, VA/Cape Henry) score to end the quarter.

The final stanza started with a Kenny Mathison (East Northport, NY/Northport) goal to give the Tigers their first lead since 2-1. The 11-10 lead would be as close as Hampden-Sydney would get as Roanoke made a 7-0 run before Mavromatis scored the final goal of the game putting Hampden-Sydney within five to end the game.

Junior Mark Bagby (Boston, MA/Marshfield) made 14 big saves on the night. Roanoke outshot the Tigers 64-33 and won 25 face-offs to Hampden-Sydney's eight.

With the loss, the Tigers end their season at 8-9 overall and 3-3 in the ODAC.