GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- The fifth-ranked Washington and Lee men's lacrosse team had its season end with a 12-8 loss at Gettysburg in the NCAA Division III National Semifinals. The Generals conclude the 2002 campaign with an overall record of 14-4, while top-ranked Gettysburg advances to next Sunday's NCAA Championship Game with a record of 17-1. The Bullets will face the winner of Sunday's other semifinal between Middlebury and Ithaca.
Gettysburg assumed an early 1-0 lead in this afternoon's contest as sophomore attackman Nick Purkat (Annandale, Va./W.T. Woodson) scored unassisted just 39 seconds into the contest. W&L responded at the 10:55 mark as sophomore attackman Matt Fink (Wilmington, Del./Tatnall) scored off an assist from freshman attackman Gavin Molinelli (Northport, N.Y./Northport). However, the Bullets retaliated with three straight goals to claim a 4-1 lead with 1:41 remaining in the first quarter. Fink rounded out the first quarter scoring as he scored off an assist from sophomore midfielder Rich Williams (Wynnewood, Pa./Haverford) with 1:10 left that cut the Bullets lead to 4-2.
The Generals sliced the deficit to one-goal (4-3) as sophomore midfielder Dustin Martin (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) scored unassisted with 6:25 left in the first half. The Bullets regained a two-goal advantage on a tally from senior attacker Ric Bremer (Ridgefield, Conn./John Jay) with 2:36 remaining in the opening half. W&L appeared to get within one goal with just under three seconds left in the first half, however, an apparent goal by Molinelli was waved off as a General attacker was ruled to be in the crease.
The Bullets then broke the game open after halftime as they scored seven unanswered goals over the third and fourth quarters. Bremer and senior attackman Pete Milliman (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) each notched two goals and an assist during the run. Trailing 12-3 with 9:38 left, the Generals mounted a comeback as they scored the final five goals of the game to provide the final margin.
Fink finished with four goals, while Molinelli contributed one goal and two assists. Sophomore Ansel Sanders (Weems, Va./Woodberry Forest) stopped 12 shots in goal.
Bremer concluded the game with four goals and two assists, while Milliman added two goals and four assists. Purkat chipped in with three goals and junior Tim McGinnis (Ellicott City, Md./Loyola-Blakefield) stopped 20 shots between the pipes.
-- GENERALS --
| TEAM |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
TOTAL |
| Washington and Lee (14-4) |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
8 |
| Gettysburg (17-1) |
4 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
12 |
SCORING
W&L GOALS: Matt Fink (4), Dustin Martin (2), Gavin Molinelli, Andrew Barnett
W&L ASSISTS: Gavin Molinelli (2), Rich Williams, Andrew Barnett
GC GOALS: Ric Bremer (4), Nick Purkat (3), Pete Milliman (2), Kevin Smith, Wes Cadman, Rich Sharp
GC ASSISTS: Pete Milliman (4), Ric Bremer (2), Wes Cadman
TEAM STATS
Shots: W&L, 44, GC, 37
Ground Balls: W&L, 42, GC, 41
Clears: W&L, 13-of-19, GC, 20-of-26
Penalty Minutes: W&L, 3 for 3:00, GC, 3 for 3:00
Extra Man: W&L, 0-for-2, GC, 1-for-2
Faceoffs, W&L, 11, GC, 12
