SALEM, Va. --- The second-seeded Washington and Lee men's lacrosse team scored four goals in the opening 3:59 of the fourth period to pull away for a 10-7 win over fourth-seeded Lynchburg College in the ODAC Championship game on Sunday at Kerr Stadium.
The win gives the Generals their 10th Old Dominion Athletic Conference title all-time and their first since the 2009 season. W&L will receive the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament which begins on Wednesday.
The Generals (15-3) held a slim 6-5 lead heading into the final quarter after Lynchburg (12-8) first-year attackman Evan Lombardo scored on a fast break with 15 seconds left in the third period. However, W&L began the final period with a goal-scoring flurry spearheaded by senior midfielder Jack Clarke (Basking Ridge, N.J. / Delbarton). Clarke won the faceoff to begin the fourth quarter and scored unassisted just seven seconds in for a two-goal lead (7-5). He then won the ensuing faceoff and beat the goalkeeper again just nine seconds later. Junior midfielderJonathan Henry (Charlotte, N.C. / Providence Day) found the net off an assist from sophomore midfielder Jones Veith (Alexandria, Va. / St. Stephen's & St. Agnes) at 12:15 and sophomore midfielder Jason Myers (Dallas, Texas / Dallas Jesuit) ended the rally at 11:01 when he scored in transition for a 10-5 lead.
Senior goalkeeper Wyatt Devine (Norfolk, Va. / Norfolk Academy) helped make the W&L advantage stand up, totaling six saves in the final 15 minutes, as the Hornets could only muster a pair of late goals for the three-goal final margin.
Neither team held a lead of greater than two goals until the W&L stretch to open the fourth period. The Blue & White tallied three straight across the second and third periods for a 5-3 lead that the Generals would never relinquish.
LC held a 45-24 advantage in shots and led the ground ball battle by a count of 32-24. The Hornets also claimed 12-of-21 faceoffs.
First-year attackman A.J. Witherell (Wilmington, Del. / Salesianum) led the way for W&L with one goal and two assists. Clarke won 9-of-20 faceoffs and scored the two goals in the decisive run, while senior midfielders Joe Perrella (Larkspur, Calif. / Redwood) andGraeme Weaver (Newtown Square, Pa. / Malvern Prep) tallied one goal and one assist each. Senior defenseman Buck Armstrong (Austin, Texas / Episcopal) played another fantastic game on the back line, causing four turnovers and picking up four ground balls. Devine was solid all day in net, recording 11 total saves in 60 minutes of action.
Devine, Armstrong, senior defenseman Bobby DeStefano (Edgewater, Md. / Severn), Weaver and Witherell were all named to the all-tournament team for their efforts over the two games.
Lombardo paced Lynchburg with three goals, while sophomore attackman Colin McGuire notched two goals and one assist. Senior Chris Hawley registered four saves while playing the duration in goal.
Washington and Lee will learn of its opponent in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this evening as the selections and game locations are announced on NCAA.com at 9:00 pm.
--- This release is courtesy of the Washington and Lee University sports information department. ---
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