Men’s lacrosse fighting for ODAC Tournament spot

Andrew Walker, Sports and Web Editor|April 20, 2018

The Guilford College men’s lacrosse team is in fifth place as they head into the final third of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference play.

After an 8-2 start to the season, the team went on a three-game losing streak before winning on April 14 over Randolph College.

The Quakers coasted to a 22-6 over Randolph, as they scored the first 11 goals of the game. Senior midfielder Aswan Bland had five goals on six shots and sophomore attacker Connor Sweeney added one goal and four assists.

The top scorer for the Quaker is Bland with 37 goals, tied for fourth-best in the ODAC. Sophomore Brennan Sweeny is fifth in the ODAC with 20 assists on the season. Junior attacker Zach Berkowitz and senior attacker Derek Spaulding have 21 goals each on the season, Berkowitz also has 11 assists.

First-year midfielder Michael Hickner has stepped into the role as the team’s main faceoff player. He has won 117-of-232 faceoffs this season and leads the team in ground balls with 52. First-year attacker George Faller has 17 goals on the season and six assists.

The Quakers’ defense has been a big part of the team’s success this season. In a seven-game winning streak earlier in the season, the defense only allowed one opponents to score more than 10 goals. The defense is anchored by seniors Will Forrestal and Matt Bowen, and sophomore Jake Dugal. Forrestal is second on the team with 51 ground balls and has 24 caused turnovers. Senior goalkeeper Parker Styles has protected the goal all season for the Quakers. Styles is second in the ODAC with an 8.58 goals against average, third in save percentage at 57 percent, and fourth in saves with 142.

The Quakers’ final three games include two games against the top two teams in the ODAC.  Washington and Lee University has not lost a ODAC game this year and is 6-0. Hampden-Sydney College is 6-1 and is the defending ODAC champions.  The Quakers end the regular season with an easier match, facing Randolph-Macon College who is 2-4 in the ODAC this season.

Guilford looks to upset Hampden-Sydney on April 21 at home in the Vs Cancer Foundation Game at 4 pm.