ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Offense and defense came together at a perfect time on Sunday for the Virginia Wesleyan College men's lacrosse team.
While the Marlins scored three goals in the fourth quarter, they also kept the host Marymount University Saints scoreless and posted a thrilling 9-7 non-conference victory at the St. Stephen/St. Agnes School field.
Marymount (1-5), which entered the game on the momentum of a 15-7 victory over Southwestern University in Texas, still got off 10 shots against the Marlins (3-3) in the fourth quarter, but could not find the back of the net. VWC senior goalie Tyler Keech (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) stepped in front of three of the shots en route to recording 16 saves for the game, his second highest total of the season.
Virginia Wesleyan trailed 3-2 after the first quarter, 4-3 at halftime and 7-6 after three, but tied the game with 11:45 remaining to be played when senior Curran Lee (Calgary, Alberta/Delta West) scored a man-up goal off an assist from junior Travis Puls (Ellicott City, Md./Baltimore Mt. St. Joseph).
Marymount won the ensuing face-off, but turned the ball over and VWC capitalized. The Marlins raced toward the goal and Adam Nycz (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) made the turnover hurt by firing in a goal to give VWC an 8-7 lead with 10:13 on the clock.
Virginia Wesleyan helped itself on the face-off following the goal when junior Brian Dressler (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) moved in to pick up the loose ball. The Marlins moved quickly toward the goal and Ian Shankland (Hampstead, N.C./John T. Hoggard) and Mikey Connors (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads)both fired shots that were stopped by Marymount goalie Ross Fernandez (Fairfax, Va./W.T. Woodson).
But the third time was definitely the charm for the Marlins as Ryan McArthur (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron) came up with the ball and fired another shot at the goal. His went in, giving the Marlins a 9-7 lead with 6:51 remaining to be played.
Marymount managed five shots in the final time, but saw them fly high, wide, or into Keech's net.
Nycz finished with three goals for the Marlins and Kyle Wright (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) added two. Puls added two assists for the Marlins.
Connor Kellogg (Greenwood Village, Colo./Littleton) led Marymount with three goals. Jeff Cook (Falls Church, Va./JEB Stuart) added two goals and an assist to lead the Saints.
Fernandez finished with 13 saves for the host team.
Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Saturday, Mar. 19, opening Old Dominion Athletic Conference play by hosting the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College at 7 p.m. on Foster Field at the Trinder Center.
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