For Immediate Release – 2/27/16 - #218
WildCats win Thriller as Soghomonian Scores at the Horn

FAYETTEVILLE, NC – Shane Soghomonian scored as the buzzer was sounding, helping the Randolph College men's lacrosse team to an 8-7 victory over Methodist University on Saturday.

The defenses on both sides showed to be very strong early in the game.  Cam Davis made four stops and Baden James caused an turnover, helping keep the Monarchs off the board in the first 10 minutes.  However, MU did the same to the WildCats, as neither team got on the board until the 1:35 mark, when Jay Robinson found the back of the net for Methodist.  Chris Lombardi added to the lead right before the horn signaled the end of the period.

The 'Cats were early aggressors in the second but once again struggled to find the back of the net.  When MU got the ball back, Davis made another stop, but Robinson tallied his second to give the Monarchs a 3-0 lead. 

Randolph continued to press, and after several shots, Soghomonian broke through with a blast.  Corey Nehlig then cut the deficit to one off a pass from Brian Crosby, but Kyle Clarkson answered on the other end to give Methodist a 4-2 lead at the half.

The third proved to be another strong defensive battle.  Matt Lindenbaum replaced Davis in the cage, but he was just as ready for the task as Davis was.  He made four stops in the third.  It allowed Nehlig to cut the deficit once again to one goal, as Pausic got the assist this time.  Mitch MacDonald then tied the score off a pass from Ryan Campbell with 13 seconds remaining in the period.

MacDonald used that momentum to take the lead at the start of the fourth.  However, the Monarchs tied it back at five one minute later.  Lindenbaum stopped three more shots before Andrew Gleitz and Graham Southwick fired shots in the back of the net to take a 7-5 lead.  MacDonald had the helper on both.  The Monarchs tied it with two straight goals, but it set up the last second fireworks.

Head coach Andy Sinclair called a timeout and the team worked to perfection.  Soghomonian then let it fly for the game-winner.

MacDonald led the team with his four points, but the real story was Davis and Lindenbaum.  Both stopped nine shots apiece in their respective halves.  Robinson tallied four points (two goals and two assists) for the Monarchs (1-3 overall).  He also picked up five groundballs during the game.

Randolph (2-0) finally returns home next week, to start a three-game homestand.  The WildCats start it off with a game next Wednesday against Ohio Northern University, with the first faceoff at 5 p.m.

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