Junior attacker John Bohlinger scored five goals, with Paul Tunick and Billy Kelly each adding three to lead the University of Mary Washingotn men's lacrosse team to an 18-13 win over Randolph-Macon College in the Eagles' home opener on Wednesday at the Battleground. Both teams move to 1-1 on the season.
The Yellow Jackets drew first blood less than two minutes into the game, but the Eagles answered with four straight goals. Bohlinger scored on a Luke Dick assist with 12:59 remaining, and Kelly scored on a Bohlinger assist at 11:53. Chip Pittard scored unassisted at 10:59 to move the lead to 3-1, and Johnny Esposito scored on a Luke Dick pass at 4:14.
The Yellow Jackets responded, scoring four of the game's next five goals to tie the score at five. UMW went ahead 6-5 on a Tunick score assisted by Pittard at 3:12 left before halftime, but the Jackets scored with 2:08 left to knot the score heading to intermission.
The second half saw the teams taking turns scoring, as the lead remained at one either way for much of the third quarter, as 12 goals were scored in the frame. The Yellow Jackets scored first out of halftime, but UMW used goals from Travis Peed and Tunick to regain the lead at 9-8 with 7:27 left in the third. RMC scored four of the next six goals to take a 12-11 lead. Bohlinger ended the third with a tying tally in the final seconds.
That goal inspired UMW heading to the fourth, as they would go on to score six straight goals to put the game away in the final quarter. Billy Kelly scored in the opening minute of the period, followed by a pair from Bohlinger. Josh Furnary upped the Eagle lead to 16-12, and Bohlinger capped the rally at 4:52 with his fifth score.
After a RMC goal, Johnny Esposito scored on a Bohlinger assist to cap the scoring.
The Eagles led in shots, 41-30, and in ground balls, 47-37. Zack Del Grosso and Kyle Davitt combined for three saves for the Eagles in goal.
UMW will return to action on Saturday when they host McDaniel College at 1:00 p.m.