LYNCHBURG, Va. --- For the fifth time in program history, University of Lynchburg's men's lacrosse team is headed to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals.

The fourth-ranked Hornets used a huge second quarter to advance past Stevens, 14-8, Sunday afternoon on Lynchburg's Shellenberger Field, earning a trip to Salisbury, Md. next weekend as one of the nation's final eight teams standing. Saturday's game pits the Hornets against No. 9 Christopher Newport.

Tied at 2-2 after a quarter, the Hornets exploded for seven second-quarter goals Sunday and rode that momentum to victory.

Kyle Lewis again helped lead the charge for Lynchburg, and the junior did it in record-setting fashion. Lewis' four assists pushed him to 52 on the season, a new Lynchburg and Old Dominion Athletic Conference single-season record.

Trammel Robinson led the Hornets with four goals, while Ryan Kenney and Brett Rogers each had a hat trick. Rogers pitched in a pair of assists as well, and goalie Patrick Moore totaled 14 saves and 10 ground balls.

Lynchburg got on the board first when Rogers found Colin Dean at the 12:19 mark in the first for an early Hornet lead, but the Ducks battled back with a pair of goals for a 2-1 advantage with 4:59 remaining in the opening stanza. Dean scored again with 1:09 before the horn to even the score at 2-2.

The second quarter was all Hornets. Rogers kicked off the scoring just 41 seconds into the period. The junior tallied all three of his goals in the second, Kenney added two, and Robinson and Riley Mitchell each had one as Lynchburg took a 9-3 lead headed into halftime. The Hornets finished the half with a flurry, scoring five times in the final 5 minutes of the quarter.

The Hornets made it a 7-0 run thanks to goals from Brooks Poli and Robinson to open the third, pulling away for an 11-3 advantage. Robinson scored twice more as the clock wound down, and Kenney finished off his hat trick in the fourth as well.

Lynchburg's defense buckled down in the game, holding the Ducks to eight or fewer goals for just the second time this season. Senior Jack Albright caused three turnovers and collected four ground balls, and graduate student Tyler Gallagher scooped up five ground balls. Graduate student Quintin Ricci was fantastic again at the face-off, winning 15 of 26 bouts at midfield.

The win is the Hornets' 12th straight and polishes off an undefeated 13-0 season at home in 2021.

Lynchburg advances to the national quarterfinals for the first time since 2017. Saturday's game with CNU will be the third meeting of the season between the two programs, each team winning on its home turf. The Captains prevailed 10-9 in overtime March 20 in Newport News, and Lynchburg won 12-5 March 26 in the Hill City. The two teams have never met in the NCAA tournament.

No. 2-ranked Salisbury and Illinois Wesleyan will meet in the other quarterfinal game at the SU site. Details regarding game times, tickets, and other tournament information from Salisbury University will be posted as it becomes available.