VIRGINIA BEACH -- A five-goal run that spanned the end of the first quarter and the start of the second quarter gave Hampden-Sydney College's lacrosse Tigers the scoring cushion they needed to produce a 12-9 Old Dominion Athletic Conference win over the host Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan College on Wednesday.
Virginia Wesleyan (7-6, 2-3) started strong on Foster Field at the Trinder Center, scoring three consecutive goals by Mikey Connors (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads), Brock Waddell (Windsor, Colo./Fossil Ridge) and Adam Nycz (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) to help the Marlins open up a 3-1 lead with 3:42 remaining in the first quarter.
But, Nate Cudy (Midlothian, Va./James River) scored with 2:07 on the clock start the five-goal run for H-SC (9-3, 3-2). Cundy's goal ended scoring in the first quarter and a shot from Micah Keller (Richmond, Va./Christchurch) opened scoring for the Tigers in the second quarter with two minutes played. The Tigers fired in three more goals, including two from Carter Mavromatis (Virginia Beach/Cape Henry) and another by Keller to open up a 6-3 lead.
Virginia Wesleyan never let up however, and closed with a 6-5 score with 5:04 remaining in the quarter when Waddell scored of an assist from Brian Dressler (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty). H-SC had to work to pad its lead, but got it done with back-to-back goals from Randy Martin (Midlothian, Va./Cosby) and Cundy before the half ended. Ian Shankland (Hampstead, N.C./John T. Hoggard) put the ball in from the right to pull VWC within an 8-6 score at the break.
The teams battled evenly throughout the third and fourth quarters, helping H-SC to maintain its lead. VWC pulled with a 9-7 score on a Shankland goal with 8:16 remaining to play in the third. But, Cundy hit for back-to-back goals to give H-SC its largest lead at 11-7.
Travis Puls (Ellicott City, Md./Baltimore Mt. St. Joseph) scored twice in the fourth quarter for VWC to pull the final margin to three goals.
Senior goalie Tyler Keech (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty)turned in an outstanding effort, producing 13 saves for the Marlins. Cody Hornung (Bala Cynwyd, Pa./Lower Merion) had 10 saves for H-SC.
Virginia Wesleyan closes out the regular-season home slate on Saturday, Apr. 16, hosting Washington & Lee University's Generals in an ODAC game beginning at 1 p.m.
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