(FREDERICKSBURG, Va.) – The 2022 men's lacrosse season starts on Saturday as Randolph-Macon heads up I-95 to take on in-state rival Mary Washington. The non-conference affair will serve as a mutual season opener for both the Yellow Jackets and Eagles.

The Basics

Time: 1 p.m.

Venue: Battleground Athletic Complex

Records: Randolph-Macon 0-0, Mary Washington 0-0

Series Record: Randolph-Macon 6, Mary Washington 14

Last Meeting: Randolph-Macon 6, Mary Washington 14 – February 14, 2018 at Day Field

Miles Muncie and Alex Camilliere both scored twice for the Yellow Jackets in their season opening defeat to the Eagles in 2018. R-MC stayed with Mary Washington for the better part of the first half, but a late goal by the Eagles 31 seconds before halftime turned the momentum in favor of the visitors. UMW built upon that goal as the start of a 6-0 run that went through the third quarter en route to the win.

Last Time Out: Randolph-Macon 5, No. 14/16 Hampden-Sydney 14 – May 4, 2021 at Hampden-Sydney

The Yellow Jackets' season came to an end in the ODAC quarterfinals to arch rival Hampden-Sydney in a matchup between the third and sixth seeds in the conference. Bubba Bowen (Arnold, Md. / Broadneck) and Jack Smith () provided first quarter goals to help bring the Lemon and Black even with the Tigers, and Jack Averna (Warrenton, Va. / Fauquier) was able to score in the second to bring the Jackets back within one goal heading into halftime. It was the closest R-MC could get, however, as H-SC went on to score the next nine goals.

Mary Washington 15, Southern Virginia 18 – April 17, 2021 at Southern Virginia

J.D. Nozemack had a seven point game with five goals and two assists as the Eagles came up just short against the Knights. The teams were even at 9-all heading into halftime before SVU took control with a 6-2 third quarter and held off the Eagles' comeback attempts in the fourth.

Inside The Numbers

• Jack Smith returns to the lineup after a stellar freshman campaign where he was named ODAC Co-Rookie of the Year and VaSID Rookie of the Year in 2021. He led the Yellow Jackets in all three scoring categories with 29 goals and 16 assists for 45 points.
• Smith's point total was No. 9 in the ODAC. Six of his goals were on EMO chances, third most in the league.
• Another pair of All-ODAC selections also return in Brandon Smith (Richmond, Va. / Douglas Freeman) and Scott Ruelle (Sr., Clifton, Va. / Centreville). Brandon Smith added 30 points from 15 goals and assists, and picked up 31 ground balls to finish top 20 in the ODAC among those that didn't take a faceoff. Ruelle was one of the top defenders on the team and forced 11 turnovers while marking the top offensive players in the ODAC.
• Nozemack returns as the top offensive player for the Eagles. He scored 51 points on 27 goals and 24 assists last year for Mary Washington.
• The series between Randolph-Macon resumes after being on hiatus since the 2019 season.

Head Coach J.B. Sheridan – 10th Season

2022 ODAC Preseason Coaches Poll