Randolph College Men’s Lax Plays Tough with Virginia Wesleyan But Falls 13-7 Wednesday

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College men’s lacrosse team battled for all 60 minutes but two short stretches of the second and fourth quarter doomed Randolph in a 13-7 loss to Virginia Wesleyan College in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play from WildCat Stadium.

VWC (6-3/2-1 ODAC) scored the first goal of the game only 47 seconds in as Brock Waddell netted his third goal of the season unassisted. The WildCat defense would go to work, holding the Marlins off the scoreboard until 5:07 left in the quarter, as Nick Pappas scored from Mike Tibbs to make the game 2-0. Randolph answered with Colton Wood’s (Chula Vista, CA/Otay Ranch) 22nd goal of the year to pull within one.

After the first period, Randolph (3-7/0-3 ODAC) trailed 3-2 as Wood scored again right before the end of the first. VWC would score the next four goals of the game, three coming in 31 seconds of play towards the end of the quarter to push its lead to 7-2. Junior Jon O’Hara (Yorktown, VA/Grafton) netted a goal with 59 seconds to play in the half to pull Randolph within four.

The WildCats played even with Virginia Wesleyan in the second half, as Wood pulled Randolph to within three with his third goal of the game. Two goals in 37 seconds by the Marlins extended the lead back out to five, but another Wood tally with help from Stephen Allman (Goodview, VA/Roanoke Catholic) make the score 9-5.

Unfortunately for the WildCats, Randolph allowed three goals in just under three minutes of play as VWC pulled away for the six-goal win. Wood scored four goals to pull tied for second in the conference in goals scored. Allman posted a goal and two assists, while O’Hara chalked up a couple of tallies.

Senior keeper Kevin McCracken (Annandale, VA/Annandale) had a fantastic game, making 18 stops to keep the WildCats in the contest. He also finished with a team-high eight ground balls. Junior Ryan Blackwell (Brambleton, VA/Briar Woods) had six ground balls and two caused turnovers, and Ryan Pearson (Asbury, NJ/North Hunterdon) added four ground balls.

Adam Nycz scored three goals and dished out two assists to lead the Marlins on the stat sheet. Andrew Adamson handed out a game-high five helpers, and Nick Pappas and Travis Pulls both netted three apiece.

Randolph will return to action Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. for another ODAC contest in WildCat Stadium, entertaining the Generals of Washington & Lee University. Saturday is Senior Day, and the WildCats will honor McCracken, Allman, Greg Herrick (Mt. Airy, MD/Linganore) and Aaron Shacklette, a member of the men’s lacrosse team in 2009 that passed away after his first year at Randolph.