ASHLAND, VIRGINIA -- The Piedmont College men's lacrosse team came up just shy of a second straight win earlier today falling 10-8 to hosting Randolph-Macon College, a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. <br />
<br />
The Lions lost it late to the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon in the two-run affair in Ashland, Virginia despite holding a 6-4 lead with 4:07 to go in the 3rd quarter. SPENCER ORTIS' 4 goals were not enough to overcome the 11 accumulated penalty minutes on 13 infractions of the defense.<br />
<br />
After last weekend's scoring spree, TAYLOR CARTER and STEVE BLANCHARD were kept quiet by the Yellow Jackets' defense only contributing to 3 goals combined. Ortis and SUMNER GANTZ were the main men up front for the Lions today. Out of the four goals scored by Ortis, three were assisted by Gantz as the senior now has four helpers on the season, one shy of STEVE BLANCHARD's team-high five. <br />
<br />
The Yellow Jackets were led by Ryan Davidson with 4 goals and 2 assists, and Coleman Adams who netted 3 goals.<br />
<br />
Piedmont was trailing the Yellow-Jackets the majority of the game, but did took its two-goal lead just before the beginning of the 4th quarter thanks to four straight goals in the 3rd with two of those coming from Ortis.<br />
<br />
However, Randolph-Macon netted five straight of its own to answer the Piedmont run holding a 9-6 lead with 4:28 to play in regulation. Adams and Davidson would secure the win for the Yellow-Jackets scoring 2 goals apiece in the final period.<br />
<br />
MICK BAKER played all 60 minutes for the Lions facing 29 shots and making 19 saves. His opposite Brian Davies also completed the 60 facing 23 shots with 15 saves.<br />
<br />
Facing off for the Lions was Gantz who went 9-for-18 as he is now 19-of-44 for the season. For the Yellow-Jackets, Nick Benhoff was the leader winning 10 of 17.<br />
<br />
Penalties were the difference in the game as Piedmont's three starting defensemen together were sidelined for 5 and a half minutes due to penalties. The Yellow Jackets scored twice in man-up opportunities accounting for the margin of two goals in the loss for the Lions.<br />
<br />
Piedmont is now 1-1 after the defeat earlier this afternoon in the first-ever meeting between these two programs. The Lions are led by Ortis on the season with his seven goals so far though Carter is close behind with five himself. Freshman DAVID SALVATELLI has picked up three so far in this, his debut season with the club.<br />
<br />
After a week-long layoff between their first two games of the season, the Lions won't have long to rest until their next game at Birmingham-Southern College on February, 18 at 6:00 pm.
