ATHENS, TN--The Lees-McRae Bobcats opened their 2008 season with
a 17-4 road win over Tennessee Wesleyan Tuesday afternoon in
non-conference men's lacrosse action. The win marked the first
season opening win for the Bobcats in the program's ten
seasons.
The Bobcats used a balanced attack with four players recording
hat tricks and seven picking up multiple points. Junior Kirk
Rogers (Casselbury, FL) moved into fifth place in career points
(54), with a five point effort, scoring three goals and adding a
pair of assists. Classmate Neil Sleight (Williamsburg, VA) and a
pair of sophomores, Kyle Ficken (Brooklyn Park, MN) and Matt Markey
(Burlington, NC) also registered a five point game with Sleight
picking up a game high four assists and Ficken and Markey each
contributing hat tricks. Sophomore Brandon Marks (Durham, NC)
scored the first three goals of his collegiate as the fourth Bobcat
to register a hat trick against the Bulldogs.
A trio of freshman also recorded their first collegiate goals,
as Josh Lucero (Encinitas, CA), Nathan Hammer (Cary, NC), and Ryan
LeBlanc (Naples, FL) hit the score sheet in their first college
games. Hammer also picked up a pair of assists while LeBlanc was
credited with one for multiple point games. Sophomore Jack Pearl
(Savannah, GA) rounded out the scoring for the Bobcats.
"We're very pleased with the outcome obviously, the boys have
been working extremely hard," commented third year Head Coach Mat
Edmunds '02. "Our schedule only gets harder from here on out, and
we've got to focus on each game accordingly. The program has been
developing very nicely the past couple years, and we're on the
right track. We need to be ready this weekend and turn in another
strong performance on the road against a very good Mars Hill
team."
The Bobcats were successful on 22 of 27 clearing attempts and
won 13 of 21 face offs with freshman Pedro Silva (Bluffton, SC)
leading the way winning 9 of 14 at the face off X.
Senior captain Adam Canoy (Durham, NC) registered ten saves in
45:00 minutes of action while freshman Andy Nesdill (Phoenix, AZ)
picked up six saves in his first collegiate lacrosse action playing
15:00 minutes. Junior captain Bryan Thompson (Durham, NC) and
freshman Eddy Nolan (New Mills, England) scooped a game high five
ground balls each.
Tennessee Wesleyan will square off against Limestone College
this Saturday while the Bobcats will travel to Asheville, NC to
take on Mars Hill in non-conference action. Game time is set for
1:00pm.
PICTURED: Kirk Rogers
