HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Senior attackman John Neely scored seven goals to help lead 15th-ranked Hampden-Sydney to a 12-11 win over top-ranked Washington and Lee in ODAC men's lacrosse action. The win gives the Tigers the ODAC title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers (11-3, 5-1) broke a 5-5 tie with 13:15 remaining in the third quarter when Neely scored off an assist from sophomore defenseman Chris Biddison. Hampden-Sydney would then go on to score five of the game's next six goals to take an 11-6 lead with 12:14 remaining in the fourth quarter.
With 9:20 remaining, the Generals (11-1, 4-1) would mount a charge as senior attackman Tom Burke (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) scored off an assist from senior attackman Matt Dugan (Rockaway, N.J./Mountain Lakes) to cut the deficit to 11-7. Dugan added an unassisted goal with 7:54 remaining and senior midfielder Pope Hackney (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's) notched a goal off an assist from Dugan just 34 seconds later to slice the H-SC lead to 11-9.
However, the momentum switched again as sophomore attackman Phillip Dick stretched the Tigers' lead to three as he scored an unassisted tally with 6:57 left.
The Generals came back again as Burke scored off an assist from junior attackman Andrew Barnett (Darien, Conn./Darien) with 5:43 left and Barnett found the back of the net himself with 4:17 remaining. W&L had several chances to force an overtime period, but could not beat H-SC senior goaltender Scott Fava in the waning minutes. Fava recorded 14 saves on the day, including 12 in the second half. The Generals attempted 21 shots in the fourth quarter comeback.
The Generals were led by Dugan, who had three goals and two assists. Burke notched four goals, while Barnett totaled two goals and two assists. Senior Wes Hays (Pasadena, Md./Loyola) made 10 saves in goal.
The Generals will not make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 1997 season and close out the year with VMI, Randolph-Macon and Limestone. The VMI game will take place on Saturday at 2:00 pm at VMI's Alumni Memorial Stadium.
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