Box Score Granville, Ohio -- Fifth year midfielder Jake Rust splashed for six goals and paved the way for the University of Lynchburg men's lacrosse team to take down Denison for its first victory over a nationally ranked opponent this season on Sunday afternoon.

The No. 18/18 Hornets (2-2) was blazing hot out of the opening whistle, netting seven straight goals to begin the contest. Rust got things going right away, slotting one past the keeper just 49 seconds into the outing. Of the seven that Lynchburg consecutively scored, Rust bagged four goals, including the first to spark the run and the last to cap the rally with 1:41 left in the first quarter.

Denison got on the board for the first time with 19 seconds left in the opening period. Neither team scored for a duration of 11:02. Senior attackman Charlie Evans snapped the drought by finishing a feed on the doorstep from sophomore middie Cole Oprandi, extending Lynchburg's lead back to seven. The Big Red's Macky Peck scored three straight in the ending 2:31 of the first half and the squads went into the intermission with a Hornet edge, 8-4.

Less than two minutes following the break, sophomore midfielder Liam Holman found fifth year middie Grant Voigt for Lynchburg's ninth goal of the game. After Colin Murphy cut Denison's deficit with back-to-back scores, the Hornets rang off three straight to push their advantage to six, 12-6, with 5:02 to go in the third quarter.

A goal from Tommy Quinson of the Big Red was followed by Rust's final goal of the day on a man-up opportunity to secure the sock trick, which was the last score of the third quarter. Lynchburg held an advantage of five-or-more for the remainder of the affair. In the final 15 minutes, each side netted two goals.

Preseason All-American Second Teamer Rust notched six goals for the fourth time in his collegiate career. He has tallied a hat trick or better in three of the Hornets' four games so far this season. Holman and junior attackman Riley Hastings each totaled three points on two assists and one goal today. Junior midfielder Parker Sealy netted two solo goals in the competition and was the fourth Hornet with a multi-point game. 

Next up for Lynchburg is the Callum Robinson Mustang Classic, hosted by Stevenson. The Hornets are set to face elite competition in two nationally ranked opponents, starting with hosts No. 19 Stevenson on Friday, March 14 at 8:30 p.m. followed by No. 4/5 Christopher Newport on Saturday, March 15 at 4 p.m.

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