College Men’s Lacrosse Final – Guilford 11, Ferrum 8

FERRUM, Va. – Seniors Duncan Fitzgerald and Jace Sowden scored three goals apiece in Guilford College’s 11-8 men’s lacrosse victory at Ferrum College Wednesday.

The Quakers (9-2) won their fourth straight game and for the sixth time in seven contests. Guilford matched the best 11-game record in the program’s history, which was initially set by the 1986 club.

Sowden had three first-half goals and Daniel Haupt added as the visitors raced to a 7-1 halftime lead. Guilford’s Andrew McDonagh scored less than three minutes into the third quarter for an 8-1 edge before the Panthers (7-8) awoke.

Fitzgerald netted back-to-back scores to close out the third-quarter scoring and open the fourth-quarter scoring. His third and final tally came with 13:38 left in regulation and gave Guilford an 11-4 advantage. After seven scoreless minutes, Ferrum threw a final flurry, which yielded four scores to provide the game’s final margin. Ethan Wakefield scored twice in the late run, including the contest’s final goal, which came with seven seconds remaining.

Guilford’s Alex Brownlee had a goal and two assists to join Fitzgerald, Haupt (2g, 1a) Sowden with a team-best three points. Daniel Hughey added a goal and an assist for the Quakers. Goalie Thomas Deane made 16 stops and collected three ground balls. Guilford’s Jake Sadd had a team-high five pickups. Guilford was successful on 16 of 19 clearing attempts.

Wakefield and T.J. Asmus both scored twice for Ferrum. Wakefield added two assists and Tyler Fullem contributed one goal and a game-best three helpers. Fullem also had a game-high six ground balls. Ferrum’s John Michael Smith played the first 35 minutes in goal before giving way to Henry Carkhuff and made seven of the Panthers’ 10 saves in the match.

Coach Tom Carmean’s Quakers return to action April 15 against visiting Old Dominion Athletic Conference rival Roanoke College.