Fourth quarter Rally pushes Bridgewater past Marlins

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.-- The Virginia Wesleyan College men's lacrosse team surrendered four unanswered goals in the fourth period and could not recover as the Marlins fell to Bridgewater College 12-11.

Wesleyan opened the scoring in the first with a Nick Zepko goal at the 11:15 mark, but the first period was one the Eagles made a statement in. Blake Mann made his presence felt for Bridgewater collecting a hat trick within the game's first 15 minutes to help BC mount a 4-2 advantage at the end of the quarter.

The second frame proved to be a reversal of fortune as the Marlins made their mark on the contest. Josh Currier secured back-to-back unassisted goals in less than a minute to draw the contest even. Currier wouldn't be finished however as he found the back of the net for a third time at the 4:22 mark.

Less than a minute later Sean MacLeish would answer for the Eagles, his second goal of the period, giving BC a 6-5 lead.

With the half winding down the Marlins received a timely goal off the stick of Eddie Desiderio, which knotted the score at six as the teams headed into intermission.

VWC maintained control throughout the third as well with Currier, Zepko, and Corey Hilliard providing the firepower, surrendering just two goals on the defensive end to take a 10-8 lead into the fourth.

Bridgewater's run in the final frame is what propelled the guests to victory. After a Tyler Conn goal 27 seconds in to make the score 11-8, the Eagles would go on and score four unanswered goals to win the game.

MacLeish's goal at the 2:38 mark, with Wesleyan down a man, proved to be the game winner, breaking an 11-11 tie. The Marlins could not net the equalizer before time expired.

Mann found the back of the net five times for Bridgewater (6-3/1-1). MacLeish also added three goals.

Currier led the way for the Marlins with five goals and an assist. Zepko found the back of the cage twice.

Virginia Wesleyan (6-3/1-2) is on the road for its next contest as the Marlins travel to Southern Virginia University (2-3) Wednesday for a 7 p.m. non-conference tilt.