Lynchburg, Va. -- Quintin Ricci dominated at the face-off, Nate Shafer piled up two goals and three assists, and University of Lynchburg's men's lacrosse team rolled to a 12-5 victory over No. 3-ranked Christopher Newport Friday night on Shellenberger Field.

Ricci, a graduate student from Oakton, was hot from the get-go at the X, winning 17 of 20 face-offs, including his first 15 attempts of the evening. He also scored a goal.

After Ricci won the opening face-off, Lynchburg took a quintet of shots but couldn't find the net on their opening possession. The defenses traded stops until the Captains drew first blood at the 8:25 mark thanks to a Thomas Mark goal.

Lynchburg (6-1) goals by Shafer and Brooks Poli put the Hornets ahead 2-1 after a quarter. CNU quickly knotted the score at 2 goals apiece, but then Lynchburg broke away.

The Hornets scored three unanswered to lead 5-2 at halftime and, after the break, dumped in five more unanswered to lead comfortably, 10-2, with 7:51 left in the game.

The Captains (6-1) broke the 36-minute scoring drought at 7:02 with a man-up goal, but the Hornets stymied any rally attempts and held on for the victory.

Lynchburg's attack was balanced, as Shafer, Poli, Colin Dean, Trammel Robinson, and Dylan Wolfe each scored a pair of goals. Kyle Lewis added a goal and an assist.

Patrick Moore controlled the game in goal, saving 10 of the 15 shots the Captains put on goal, snagging give ground balls, and causing one turnover. Tyler Gallagher highlighted the defensive unit's effort with three caused turnovers and five ground balls.

With the win, the No. 5-ranked Hornets avenged their only loss of the 2021 campaign, a 10-9 overtime defeat in Newport News on March 20. Lynchburg will put its unblemished Old Dominion Athletic Conference record on the line on the road next Friday, April 2 at Washington and Lee. Face-off is set for 7 p.m.

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--LYN--