For immediate release – 3/5/2016 - #237
WildCats Seal Best Start in Program History with 16-4 Victory

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College men's lacrosse team earned a big 16-4 victory over Huntingdon College in nonconference action on Saturday night.  The win gives the WildCats its first 4-0 start and first four-game win streak in program history.

The 'Cats got things going early on, as the team had several shots but could not connect.  After a Hawks' slashing penalty, Brett Pausic found Corey Nehlig who blasted one in to start the scoring.  The WildCats kept the pressure on HC, but goalie Fabien Gutierrez made a couple of stops.  After keeping on the pressure, Kadri Hearns found Andrew Gleitz for his first of the night.

Kendrick Ballard then cut the deficit in half at the 4:21 mark of the first.  Both goalies made a series of saves over the final minutes to keep the score at 2-1.

Fortunately, the WildCats started their biggest period off in style, as Graham Southwick fired one in the back of the cage just 30 seconds into the period.  Two minutes later, Ryan Campbell added to that lead.  Brian Crosby found Josh Yeast, who dove through the middle of the defense and sent one in with 9:57 left.

After a few minutes of neither team tallying, Southwick started a quick burst.  Following a timeout, he found some space and scored his second.  One minute later, Crosby tallied off of a Pausic dish. A minute and a half later, with the WildCats up two-men, Pausic found another one of his teammates, Nehlig, to give Randolph the 8-1 lead at the half.

Coming out of the break, both defenses shined for several minutes.  But then at the 9:05 mark, Mitch MacDonald ripped a shot into the upper corner for his first of the game.  Gleitz pushed the advantage to nine, this time with Southwick making the assist.

Ballard scored for the second time of the night shortly after, as a WildCat sat in the penalty box, but Randolph answered quickly.  Andrew Risse topped shelfed it, and then he found Southwick from behind the net, and Southwick put the team up 10.

The fourth started off with quick fireworks, as Campbell finished off a Risse pass.  Then Gleitz scored his final one of the night a minute later.  Patrick Rowe tallied for the final Huntingdon goal one minute after Gleitz put the lead at 12.

Seven minutes after the quick goals by both teams, two WildCats added to the lead.  Scott Wilkinson caught a pass from Pausic (common theme) and scored his first of the season. Then Latzi Balint finished the scoring soon after.

Cam Davis and Matt Lindenbaum combined for 14 saves, keeping up the stout goalkeeping that's been seen all year.  Baden James caused four turnovers and scooped up five ground balls.  Spencer Matthews forced two turnovers and picked up four of his own.  Southwick (three goals, one assist) and Pausic (four assists) tallied the most points for the 'Cats.

Josh Clayton caused a turnover and picked up four ground balls for the Hawks (5-5 overall).

Randolph (4-0) will host Bethany (WV) College (0-3) at 3:30 p.m. on Monday.  The WildCats will be looking to tie the school record for wins in a season, and continue its longest winning streak.

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