Lynchburg, Va. -- In a blow-for-blow, offense-driven battle, the University of Lynchburg men's lacrosse team powered past Roanoke in the ODAC semifinal round, 18-16, on Friday night at Shellenberger Field.
With the victory, the No. 7/7 Hornets advance to the conference championship for the 12th consecutive season, excluding the abbreviated 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In those twelve contests, Lynchburg has claimed the ODAC Championship title six times, the most recent of which came in 2024, where the Hornets took down Randolph-Macon at home, 13-8.
In tonight's outing, the score was tight throughout its entirety. Neither side led by more than three goals at any point. The score was tied six times in the first half before the Hornets rattled off a three-goal run in the middle of the second quarter and kept the edge for the remainder of the affair.
The Hornets opened the scoring against the Maroons on a goal from
Finn Schmidt off an assist from
Riley Hastings and built an early 3-1 lead behind goals from Hastings and
Cole Oprandi. Roanoke answered with a 4-0 run to move ahead 5-3, but
Spencer Vandenberg and
Will Rubley scored late in the quarter to give Lynchburg a 6-5 lead after one.
The second quarter featured back-and-forth scoring. Roanoke briefly built an 8-6 advantage, but Lynchburg responded with a strong stretch. Rubley and
Kayden Hinchey each scored to tie the game, and Oprandi added another goal to even the score at 10-10.
Parker Sealey and
Mark Rubley followed with consecutive goals, and Hinchey added his second of the quarter off an assist from
Gabe Menchaca as the Hornets took a 13-12 lead into halftime.
Lynchburg extended its lead in the third quarter.
Will Rubley converted a man-up opportunity, and
Liam Holman scored twice, including a goal assisted by
Mark Rubley. Sealey added another goal late in the period to push the Hornets ahead 17-14 entering the fourth quarter.
Roanoke cut into the deficit early in the fourth, but Lynchburg answered with a key goal from
Kolbe Haug off a feed from Hastings to make it 18-15. Roanoke added a late man-up goal, but the Hornets held on down the stretch to secure the two-goal victory.
Holman and
Will Rubley led Lynchburg with three goals each, while Hastings totaled two goals and three assists. Sealey and Hinchey each added two goals as the Hornets finished with 44 shots and won 22 faceoffs in the win.
Lynchburg is set to travel to Lexington, Va. to take on top-seeded Washington and Lee for the conference title match on Sunday, May 3 at 3:30 p.m.
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