For Immediate Release – 4/23/16 - #324
Marlins Foil Randolph on Senior Day

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College men's lacrosse team fell to Virginia Wesleyan College 17-6 on Saturday.  Prior to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) game, the WildCats honored their six seniors: Brian Crosby, Cam Davis, Andrew Gleitz, Baden James, Corey Nehlig, and Andrew Risse.

The Marlins came out of the gate and put pressure on the 'Cats.  Davis made several early saves and caused a turnover.  However at the 8:19 mark, Joe Couture got VWC on the board.  Spencer Matthews forced a turnover soon after the next faceoff which started a fast break.  Gleitz made a nice move on the crease, but his shot was stopped.  Shortly after Josh Currier scored his first goal of the day, which kept the Marlins run going.

The run lasted until the start of the second period, when Currier scored on a man-up to put VWC up 6-0, but the WildCats answered on the defensive end shortly after.  James caused a turnover, and the offense put pressure on the Marlins.  Graham Southwick then found Mitch MacDonald, who let one rip for his first of the game.

Virginia Wesleyan responded, but Randolph came right back.  Crosby and James both forced turnovers getting the ball back in the hands of the attack.  A penalty flag was down and a stall-warning was in effect, but Risse skipped a pass to Shane Soghomonian who negated both with a rocket in the back of the net.  The score would remain 7-2 at the half.

VWC came back to start the half with two early man-up goals.  It would be indicative of the rest of the period, as the Marlins outscored the WildCats 6-0 during the third, with three on the EMO.

The 'Cats came out in the fourth strongly.  After Alex Leyva won the faceoff, Randolph got the ball successfully into the box.  Once again Southwick fed MacDonald who fired it in the back of the net for his second.  Virginia Wesleyan scored just over a minute later, but the determined hosts answered again.  This time Risse hit MacDonald, who finished his hat trick to bring the WildCats within 10.

However, the Marlins came back soon after with an additional tally.  The defense continued to put pressure on as James and McKinzie Garnett forced turnovers.  Randolph then took another goal back after a quick counter-attack.  Southwick skipped it to Risse after a successful clear, and Risse ripped one in the cage.  But the Marlins answered with two more.  Brett Pausic added a late goal off of a pass from Ryan Campbell, but it would not be enough.

James, Crosby, Davis, and Nehlig combined to force eight turnovers in the game.  Matthews had a game high eight ground balls, while Davis and Leyva picked up six.  Davis ended the game with 10 saves.  The WildCats won 14 of their 23 attempts at the 'X', with Leyva being 12-19.

Currier, the leading scorer in the nation, finished with eight points for the Marlins (10-4 overall, 4-3 ODAC).

Randolph (8-7, 2-5) will play its final home game next week.  The WildCats host Washington and Lee University (12-3, 7-0) on Wednesday.  The first faceoff is set for 7 p.m.

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