(LYNCHBURG, Va.) – Randolph-Macon fell to No. 11 Lynchburg in a battle between two of the top teams in the ODAC on Saturday evening. The Yellow Jackets rallied late in the first half, but it wasn't enough to overcome a high-powered Hornets attack.

The Basics

Score: Randolph-Macon 8, No. 11 Lynchburg 17

Venue: Shellenberger Field

Records: Randolph-Macon 9-6, 5-3 ODAC; No. 11 Lynchburg 11-4, 7-1 ODAC

How It Happened

• The Hornets opened the game on a 5-0 run before Andrew Tiffey (Sr., Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake) provided the first goal for the Lemon and Black. Jack Smith (So., Stevensville, Md. / DeMatha) provided the assist with 2:50 to go in the frame.
• Avery Tankersley (Fr., Baltimore, Md. / Boys Latin) then made it 5-2 with his goal to start the second, but Lynchburg answered with the next four scores.
• The final six goals of the first half were evenly split with Jack Averna (Sr., Warrenton, Va. / Fauquier) adding to his near-record breaking season with his 51st goal to start the trend on Ryan Pritchard's (So., Crofton, Md. / DeMatha) assist.
• A pair of Hornet penalties set up the next two scores for the Jackets. Brandon Smith (Sr., Richmond, Va. / Douglas Freeman) provided both goals on helpers from Jack Smith and Derek Marsilio (Harrisburg, Pa. / Bishop McDevitt).
• Lynchburg kept the pressure on in the third with four goals. Tiffey was able to break through and score midway through the frame on a Jack Smith assist.
• Brandon Smith scored his hat trick goal and Marsilio followed less than a minute later to open up the fourth to make the score 16-8, but R-MC could get no closer.

Inside The Numbers

• Sam Averna (Sr., Warrenton, Va. / Fauquier) made 11 saves in goal and picked up seven ground balls. Scott Ruelle (Sr., Clifton, Va. / Centreville) added six to the GB count.
• Jack Smith finished with three assists.
• Jack Averna's 51 goals are five away from matching the single season program record of 56.
• The Hornets were led by Ryan Kenney who scored four goals.

Up Next

The final home game of the regular season is up next for the Yellow Jackets as they welcome Ferrum. Faceoff with the Panthers is set for 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.