LYNCHBURG, Va. --- The Roanoke College men's lacrosse team advances to the 2015 ODAC Championship game on Sunday afternoon, after defeating Virginia Wesleyan 11-5 on Saturday afternoon. The Maroons now have a record of 12-5, while the Marlins exit the tournament with a mark of 10-6.
Colin Mackenzie scored a career high seven goals in tonight's contest to lead the Maroons. He is the first Roanoke player to score seven goals in a game since Reid Mayberry accomplished the feat against Randolph-Macon on April 14, 2012. The Maroons also turn the tables on their last loss of the season, which was on April 4th, as the Roanoke fell to the Marlins 17-15 on that day. With the win, Roanoke advances to the ODAC Championship game on Sunday, May 3rd as they take on Lynchburg College at 2:00 PM at Shellenberger Field in Lynchburg. The Maroons are looking to capture their 19th ODAC Champion, starting since 1981. It would also be their sixth ODAC Championship since the ODAC Tournament began in 2002. Roanoke is also looking to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the 25th time in school history.
Virginia Wesleyan jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over the Maroons in the first 28 seconds of the game. Goals came from Josh Currier and a man up goal from Joe Papetti (assisted by Currier). The Maroons answered back with two goals through the 11:30 mark. Colin Mackenzie scored the first goal at 12:45 with an assist from Kevin Jackson. Will Pilat scored a minute later, unassisted, which is the 99th career goal for the junior. The Marlins claimed the lead again at 8:52 with a goal by Devynn Kelly. But Mackenzie tied the game at 3-3 entering the end of the first quarter with an assist from Pilat.
Only one goal was tallied in the second quarter as Mackenzie scored his third, as Pilat picked up his second assist. The Maroons closed the half with a 4-3 lead. The Marlins opened the second half with a goal at 11:20 by Mike Moran to tie the game at 4-4. Roanoke and Virginia Wesleyan traded goals over the next six minutes to tie the game at 5-5. Roanoke's goal came from IV Stucker, assisted by Joey Dishaw. The Maroons finished the third quarter with two unanswered goals, both by Mackenzie, his fourth and fifth. The goals were assisted by Tyler McWilliams and Stucker.
Roanoke, with a 7-5 lead entering the fourth quarter, played the final 15 minutes in dominant fashion, blanking the Marlins and scoring four goals of their own. During the fourth, Roanoke held Virginia Wesleyan to just two shots to the Maroons' 12. The final four goals came from McWilliams, Steven Jackson and two more from Colin Mackenzie, as the Maroons advance to the ODAC Championship game on an 11-5 victory.
Mackenzie notched seven goals, while McWilliams, Pilat, Stucker and Jackson tallied one apiece. Kevin Jackson, Pilat and Stucker tied with two assists each to lead the team. Troy Grogan finished with a team high five ground balls, while Max Kraus won nine of 13 face-off attempts. Dylan Torrey played the complete game between the pipes, tallying eight saves on 13 shots faced.
The Marlins were led in scoring by Mike Moran with two. Josh Currier finished with two of the team's three assists. Duncan Haight had a team high three ground balls. Rory Finnegan was tabbed with the loss, making 20 saves over the course of the evening.
The Maroons led in many statistical categories including: shots (51-27), ground balls (38-18) and face-offs won (12-7).
Roanoke will be back in action with the ODAC Championship Game on Sunday, May 3rd, as they play top seed Lynchburg College in Lynchburg. That contest is scheduled for a 2:00 PM start.
--- This release is courtesy of the Roanoke College sports information department. ---
maroons.roanoke.edu