Box Score LEXINGTON, Va. (May 11, 2016) – Despite a back and forth match through the first three quarters, rival No. 20 ranked Washington & Lee pulled away late for a 9-5 NCAA Tournament win over the Sewanee men's lacrosse team, Wednesday, at historic Wilson Field.
The Tigers' season ends with a 12-4 overall record. Despite losing on Wednesday, the match against the Generals was the best showing in the NCAA Tournament in program history. Previously, Sewanee lost by double digits in NCAA Tournament in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Additionally, Sewanee ends the season as the first-ever Southern Athletic Association (SAA) team to win back-to-back SAA Tournament and Regular Season Championships. The Tigers went undefeated in conference play for the second straight season. Additionally, Selby Austin and Robbie Berndt were named SAA Defensive and Offensive Player of the Year winners.
Sewanee opened the match with two goals from freshman Hayden Hunt in the first quarter. Hunt's goals at 9:29 and 4:45 helped Sewanee lead after the opening 15 minutes, 2-1.
After back-to-back goals by the Generals in the second, the score entered halftime knotted at 3-3 when Berndt ripped in a man-up goal with 10 seconds left in the first half.
Out of the locker room, W&L responded. Max Hutson and Jack Clarke scored back-to-back goals which gave W&L a 5-3 lead with 12:57 left in the third. Sewanee answered back when Peter Brown found Pat DiMento for a goal four minutes later.
Unfortunately, W&L's offense picked up in the fourth. The Generals started the quarter on a 3-0 run after Chris Rusbuldt, A.J. Witherell, and Joe Perrella all scored.
Jake Chintz added the Tigers' final score with 1:26. W&L's Christian Zanetis scored a goal with Austin out of net with 19 seconds remaining.
Overall, Sewanee outshot W&L 35-25. Faceoff specialists Cason Liles and Ryan Stubits combined to out draw W&L 12-7. The Tigers also edged the Generals in groundballs, 31-26.
A low scoring match, Sewanee defender Jake Rubenstein finished with three caused turnovers and four groundballs while Austin made five saves and grabbed five groundballs.
On offense, Hunt led the attack with two goals while Brown and Hayden Byrd also added an assist. Like Sewanee, W&L was balanced on offense. Perrella led the Generals with two goals on six shots.
W&L goalkeeper Wyatt Devine also played well with 10 saves and three groundballs.
For more information on Sewanee Athletics, please visit www.SewaneeTigers.com. You can also check the Tigers out on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr.
