LYNCHBURG, Va.- It took a little longer than expected but the Randolph men's lacrosse team finally picked up its first win of the season. The WildCats hosted Brevard in a non-conference game on Tuesday night and came out with a 15-13 victory.
Randolph got ahead 4-0 in the first quarter. The Tornados cut the WildCat lead in half but the 'Cats added a fifth score to go up 5-2.
Goals from Jack Dolan (Dumfries, Va./Potomac) and Calvin Hurt (Lynchburg, Va./New Covenant) in the second quarter increased the 'Cat advantage to 8-2 with 10:45 showing on the game clock. Brevard came roaring back with a 6-0 run spanning the second and third quarters to knot the contest at 8-8. Three of those scored came on a man-up opportunity.
The WildCats ended the Brevard goal spurt with their own score at 10:09 of the third quarters as Jake Helsey (Midlothian, Va./Trinity Episcopal) fed to Dolan to put Randolph on top 9-8. The Tornados took their first lead of the evening with a pair of scores to go ahead 10-9 with 4:07 to play in the third frame.
A penalty on Brevard gave Randolph an extra-man chance. The WildCats would take advantage as Dolan scored to even the game at 10-10 with 3:07 left. After an even man goal by Helsey at 1:17, another Brevard penalty led to a man-up goal by Zach Miller (Louisa, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) with 11 ticks left in the third period as Randolph led 12-10.
The WildCats began to pull away in the fourth quarter as goals by Helsey and Hurt put Randolph ahead 15-10. Brevard tallied three goals in the final minute of play but it was too late for a comeback as the 'Cats walked away victors.
Brevard led in total shots 42-41 and 25-24 on shots on goal. The Tornados led in groundballs 35-31. Randolph was a perfect 22-of-22 on clear attempts and 2-of-3 on extra man opportunities.
Dolan scored a career-high five goals to go with one assist. Helsey also had a career-best five goals and added two helpers. Hurt scored twice and assisted on a third goal. He also picked up four groundballs. Miller had a seven-point night with two goals and five assists. He also grabbed a team-high eight groundballs and was 8-of-13 on faceoffs. Matthew Piascik (Midlothian, Va./Trinity Episcopal) scored once and assisted on another.
Kyle Grundy (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run) caused a team-high five turnovers. Jeff Watson (Manassas, Va./Forest Park), Chad Melton (Midlothian, Va./Trinity Episcopal), and Tom Stahler (Cape May Court House, NJ/Middle Township) all had two caused turnovers each. William Doyle (Louisville, KY/Louisville Collegiate) stopped 12 shots in the cage.
Randolph travels to Shenandoah on Saturday. Game time from Winchester will be at 1:00 p.m.
