(April 16, 2005) LYNCHBURG, VA – The 16^th ranked Hampden-Sydney College lacrosse team dropped a tough 10-8 decision to Old Dominion Athletic Conference rival Lynchburg College who is currently ranked 11^th.  With the loss, the Tigers fall to 7-4 overall and 3-2 in the ODAC while the Hornets improve to 9-4 overall and are tied with H-SC at 3-2 in the conference. 

In the first quarter the Tigers and Hornets traded goals back and forth starting with Hampden-Sydney midfielder Vince Smith (Palmyra, VA/St. Anne’s-Belfield) at the 11:05 mark.  Lynchburg’s Brian McCulloch (Annandale, VA) fired back to even the score at one apiece followed by another H-SC goal from sophomore Michael Via (Virginia Beach, VA/Norfolk Academy).  Lynchburg answered again with a goal from Ryan Cranston (West Chester, PA) to knot things up at two apiece at the end of the first.

Vince Smith gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead early in the second quarter but Lynchburg quickly rattled off four goals in a row to take the lead 6-3.  Hampden-Sydney responded as senior defenseman John Pritzlaff set up Middleton Smith for a goal at the 1:33 mark.  Lynchburg midfielder Ryan Quick (Charlottesville, VA) charged down the field and scored just 20 seconds later but the Tigers delivered one final blow before the end of the half as Michael Via scored his second goal of the game to bring the Hornet lead to 7-5 heading into the break. 

Lynchburg came out of the locker room with two quick goals from Billy MCulloch (Annandale, VA) and Ryan Cranston.  As Hampden-Sydney started to feel the pressure from the 11^th ranked team in the nation, senior Kevin Burke (Alexandria, VA/ST. Stephen’s) found the net followed by Sean McChesney (Charlottesville, VA/St Anne’sBelfield) and Thomas Jennings (Murfreesboro, TN/Webb School) to bring the Tigers within one, 9-8. 

Lynchburg got a little breathing room as Johnny Black (Timonium, MD) scored with 9:46 left in the fourth.  With time winding down, Hampden-Sydney unloaded a fury of shots but was unable to convert for a final score of 10-8. 

Lynchburg out shot the Tigers 33-29 while Hampden-Sydney won an impressive 14-21 face offs.  Both nationally ranked teams picked up 41 ground balls on the day.   

With H-SC senior goalkeeper Jeremy Bull (Raleigh, NC/Ravenscroft) out due to injury, freshman Greg Frankoski (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) stepped up and chalked up seven saves along with Scott Russell (Darien, CT/Darien) who had four.  For the Hornets, Garrett Curran (Hull, MA) had a game high 10 saves. 

Hampden-Sydney returns to action next Saturday, April 23, as they host 10^th ranked Washington and Lee in the last regular season game of 2005.