YORK, Pa. --- Seventh-ranked York outscored 20th-ranked Washington and Lee, 10-1, over the final 44:49 to claim a 12-5 win over the Generals in the second round of the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship at Kinsley Field.
The Generals (16-4) jumped out to the early advantage, scoring two goals in a span of 1:24 for a 2-0 lead at the 12:10 mark of the first quarter. Junior attackman Whit Griffin (Richmond, Va. / Collegiate) fed sophomore attackman Sam Dardani (Waccabuc, N.Y. / Westminster) on the crease for an easy goal at 13:34 and then Griffin was rewarded with a feed on the doorstep from first-year attackman A.J. Witherell (Wilmington, Del. / Salesianum) for a goal at 12:10.
York (18-3) got on the board with a man-up goal from senior midfielder Sam Kaplan at the 8:30 mark, but W&L made it a 3-1 game just 1:10 later when sophomore midfielder Ryan Brady (Tampa, Fla. / Tampa Jesuit) fed Dardani in front of the goal for a transition tally at 7:20.
Senior attackman Andrew Gamble scored with 2:18 left in the first to make it a 4-3 game, but senior midfielder Jack Clarke (Basking Ridge, N.J. / Delbarton) fed Griffin for a goal off the opening faceoff of the second quarter for a 4-2 lead with 14:49 remaining in the half.
However, the momentum changed at that point, as the Spartans began to maintain possession on offense and scored three straight goals before the half for a 5-4 lead at the break. Gamble scored a second goal and was joined in the goal column by junior midfielder Taylor Tolbert and first-year attackman Thomas Pfeiffer.
Gamble made it 6-4 when he scored unassisted 3:13 into the third period, but the Generals made it a one-goal game (6-5) when senior midfielder Max Hutson (Houston, Texas / Episcopal) assisted Griffin for his third goal of the game at the 2:11 mark of the third period.
York took over following the Griffin goal, however, scoring twice before the end of the third quarter and then adding four more tallies in the fourth for the final margin.
The Spartans held a 48-26 advantage in shots and a 33-22 edge in ground balls. York also won 13-of-21 faceoffs.
Griffin led the Generals with a career-high four points on three goals and one assist. Dardani added two goals and senior goalkeeper Wyatt Devine (Norfolk, Va. / Norfolk Academy) notched 12 saves in 60 minutes of action.
Gamble scored three goals and Pfeiffer posted two tallies and one assist to lead the Spartans. First-year midfielder Cameron Leech chipped in one goal and two assists as well. Senior goalkeeper Caleb Abney notched nine saves in goal.
Washington and Lee has now completed its 2016 season, tying the school record with 16 wins. York moves on to the NCAA Quarterfinals and will host Gettysburg on Wednesday.
--- This release is courtesy of the Washington and Lee University sports information department. ---
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