Posted: May 02, 2010
SALEM, Va. --- Roanoke was well rested after a two-week layoff and it paid major dividends as they prepared for its post-season run. The Maroons, ranked sixth in the country, kept their season going with a 15-7 win over ODAC-rival #18 Washington & Lee in the ODAC Semifinals at Kerr Stadium Sunday afternoon.
After final exams and graduation for its 14-member senior class, Roanoke looked impressive in the first game since its 19-8 regular season finale win over Randolph-Macon on April 17. The Maroons (15-2) clinched their fifth 15-win season in the last six years. This four-year group has compiled a record of 55-15 and will be making their third ODAC Championship appearance in the last four seasons.
The first goal of the contest took nine-seconds, as senior attackman Matt Quinton (Elora, Ontario, Canada, Kitchener Braves)scored off an assist from fellow senior Ashton Hotchkiss (Darien, CT, Darien)to give the Maroons the early lead. The first quarter was the Quinton and Jeff Keating (Chatham, NJ, Chatham)show, as they combined for the first five goals of the contest before the Generals (11-6) got on the board towards the end of the quarter to make it, 5-1.
Freshman Richard Lachlan (Port Coquitlam, B.C., Terry Fox Secondary)got into the scoring with Keating and Quinton, as the trio combined for six second-quarter goals. Lachlan opened the second quarter with a man-down goal followed by one of Quinton's three second-quarter goals (both from Keating) in a man-up situation as the Maroons began to pull away.
In the largest win margin over the Generals in five years (16-7 in 2006), Roanoke mounted an 11-2 lead at halftime and never trailed in the 19th series win over Washington and Lee. The last six meetings have been decided by two goals or less, with both teams claiming three wins each during that span.
After Steve Furdock (Birmingham, MI, Birmingham Seaholm)goal from Keating gave Roanoke its largest lead of the game, 12-2, Washington and Lee scored four of the next five goals in the third quarter to close to within seven heading into the final 15 minutes of action.
Hotchkiss' 20th goal of the season came at the 11:08 mark in the fourth quarter from Brian Foley (Charlotte, NC, Myers Park)to make it 14-6. The Maroons controlled the fourth quarter, winning 3-of-4 face-offs and going 5-for-5 on clear attempts, breaking up five of the Generals eight clears. Roanoke outshot W&L, 15-5 and was 14-8 in groundballs.
Roanoke held advantages in shots (47-31), groundballs (55-25) and face-offs (14-of-24) while successful in all 30 clear attempts on the day.
Quinton, who finished with a career-best seven goals, scored six in the first half to lead the Maroons offense to the nine-goal halftime lead. He moved into 15th on the all-time scoring list (174pts) and is now one goal behind current assistant coach and last season's USILA First-Team All-American Zach Thomas (Bel Air, Md, St. Paul's HS)from sixth on the career goals list (140).
Keating, a sophomore attackman, finished with three goals and four assists in the win, giving him 92 career points, eight shy of becoming the 42nd member of the 100-point club at Ronaoke. Lachlan scored two goals and added an assist while Hotchkiss chipped in a goal, an assist and four groundballs. Foley dished out two assists with four groundballs.
Justin Tuma (Bloomfield Hills, MI, Lahser)won 9-of-12 face-offs while collecting nine groundballs and scored a goal. He is two groundballs shy of 10th on the career list at Roanoke. Alex Burkhead (Winston-Salem, NC, Forsyth Country Day), Sam Love (Berwyn Heights, MD, Dematha)and Mike Hayden (Vienna, VA, James Madison HS)caused three turnovers while Burkhead had four groundballs as the defense had a solid performance.
Greg Khanzadian (Syracuse, NY, Christian Brothers)won five face-offs to give him 127 on the year, ninth on the single-season list at Roanoke. Stephen Simmons (West Friendship, MD, Mt. St. Joseph)had a groundball on the afternoon, giving him 270 for his career, now five shy of sixth on the all-time list.
Jake Dorsey (Woodbine, MD, Mt. St. Joseph)had 11 saves in goal for Roanoke as the program's winningest goalie earned his 50th career win. He currently sits fourth on the career saves list with 623.
Mac Means led W&L with two goals, while Cooper Brown tallied one goal and one assist. Keigler finished with one goal to conclude his career as the program's sixth all-time leading scorer with 212 points. Matt Mason played all 60 minutes in goal and stopped 13 shots.
Roanoke will host the ODAC Championship against Lynchburg on Sunday, May 9. The Maroons will be hosting their third conference championship game in four years. Their last ODAC Championship came in 2007, knocking off the Hornets, 11-9 at Kerr Stadium. Roanoke defeated Lynchburg, 15-7 in the regular season, as the Maroons improved its series record to 30-6 against their ODAC-foe. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Kerr Stadium.
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