LEXINGTON, Va. –
Austin Payne (Charlottesville, Va./Western Albemarle) notched four goals as RMC men's lacrosse overcame a 9-3 deficit to defeat top-seed Washington and Lee 13-12 in the ODAC Semifinals.
The Basics
Score: #5 Randolph-Macon 13, #1 Washington and Lee 12
Venue: Watt Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (15-4, 6-3 ODAC), Washington and Lee (13-5, 9-0 ODAC)
How it Happened
- The Generals converted on the first extra man opportunity of the day to grab a 1-0 lead just over three minutes into the contest. Two minutes later, W&L struck again with their second goal. Bubba Bowen (Arnold, Md./Broadneck) got the Yellow Jackets on the board with a man-up goal at the 8:48 mark of the first. After another Generals goal, Bowen tallied another to cut the deficit to 3-2. W&L was able to score once more before the end of the frame to take a 4-2 lead after 15 minutes.
- W&L wasted no time extending their lead as they scored the first three goals of the second stanza before Austin Payne found the back of the net to stop the run. Two more Generals goals ensued but RMC answered with three of their own right before the half as Mike Allen (Williamsburg, Va./Jamestown), Jack Smith (Stevensville, Md./DeMatha Catholic), and Avery Tankersley (Baltimore, Md./Boys Latin) each scored. Tankersley's goal came with just 32 seconds to go before half. RMC trailed 9-6 heading to the break.
- The Generals opened the second half with a goal to push the lead to 10-6 but RMC responded in a big way, scoring four of the next five goals, including Payne and Tankersley's second of the game, and Bowen's hat trick goal to end the frame. The Yellow Jackets took an 11-10 deficit into the final 15 minutes of regulation.
- The comeback was completed as Payne scored his third of the game just under two minutes into the quarter, but the Generals took the lead right back three minutes later. After the teams traded empty possessions, Tankersley joined the hat trick club with seven minutes to go to knot the score at 12. With 2:43 to go, Payne found the back of the net once again to give RMC their first lead of the game at 13-12. That goal proved to be the game-winner as RMC held on to move to the ODAC Championship.
By The Numbers
- Payne recorded four goals in the game while also dishing an assist.
- Bubba Bowen and Avery Tankersley each had hat tricks. Bowen did so on three shots and had an assist.
- Brodie Kent (Coquitlam, Canada/Centennial) totaled six ground balls and a caused turnover. He also had an assist.
- Jack Twomey (Reston, Va./Gonzaga) stopped six shots in goal and had four ground balls.
- RMC forced 16 turnovers by the Generals and went 21-23 on clear attempts.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets will advance to the ODAC Championship on Saturday and will play at the winner of Lynchburg and Roanoke.
