HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA - Down 7-6 going into the fourth quarter, the Generals of Washington & Lee University outscored #13 Hampden-Sydney lacrosse 3-1 in the final 15 minutes to earn the 9-8 upset victory in ODAC action.
The game was back-and-forth for the majority of the first-half. Cole Hawthorne (Richmond, VA/Collegiate) put the Tigers up 1-0 at the 10:45 mark, then Mac Means answered back with a General goal at 9:17. Eric Gorsline (Virginia Beach, VA/Norfolk Academy) put the Tigers back out ahead with 8:33 to go in the first stanza, but Means evened it up again at 7:31. Nate Cundy (Midlothian, VA/James River) pushed the Tigers ahead 3-2 with 5:32 left in the quarter, but Jared Mitchell tied it up at 3-3 just 12 seconds later. Carter Mavromatis (Richmond, VA/Collegiate) gave the Tigers a 4-3 advantage heading into the second quarter.
The offensive show came to a halt after the first 15 minutes, as only three goals were scored in the second stanza. Micah Keller (Richmond, VA/Christchurch) and Gorsline notched back-to-back goals just 12 seconds apart to put H-SC in command with a 6-3 lead. Sam Mott of WLU cut the advantage to 6-4 at the 7:03 mark and neither team scored another goal to head into halftime.
Will Garrett opened the second half with a tally at 10:26 to make it a 6-5 game. Bobby Fulton (Atlanta, GA/Wesleyan) responded by finding the back of the net at 9:55 to push the lead back to two, 7-5. The General defense stepped in from there and proved the difference in the game as the Tigers went over 15 minutes before scoring again.
Washington & Lee rattled off three straight goals to take an 8-7 lead with 11 minutes left in the game. Keller fired off a missile to the top left corner to even the game at 8-8 with 7:44 to go. Scott Meehan put the ball in the net at the 5:41 mark to go up 9-8. The Tigers were able to force some Generals turnovers late in the game, but the Tiger offense could not get on track to earn the victory.
Keller and Gorsline each had two goals while Mavromatis and Hawthorne posted a goal and two assists apiece. Hawthorne also had six groundballs. Brad Mostowy (Atlanta, GA/Trinity Pawling) was dominant on the face-offs, winning 14 of his 20 attempts along with eight groundballs. Cody Hornung (Bala Cynwynd, PA/Lower Merion) played all 60 minutes in net, making 10 saves while scooping seven groundballs.
Means, Spence Daw, and Mott each found the back of the net twice for W&L while Cooper Brown posted two assists. Jason Lumpkin earned the win at goal while registering 14 saves.
H-SC outshot W&L 39-29 and won the ground ball battle 37-33. The Tigers also won 14 of the game's 21 face-offs. W&L went 18-for-18 on clears while the Tigers were 18-for-21. Only seven penalties were recorded, but the Generals went 2-4 on extra-man opportunities and Hampden-Sydney was 1-3. The General defense forced the Tigers into 18 turnovers while Washington & Lee had 14 giveaways.
Hampden-Sydney returns to the field on Wednesday as they host Greensboro College at 4 p.m. in non-conference play.
