Widener 7, Lebanon Valley 6
 
LVC Starters
Keefer, Warmingham, Bushong, Weaver, Croyle, Wagner, Campbell, Epple, Hoff, Torrence
 
WU Starters
Cook, Paone, Kirkwood, Johnston, Facciani, Kerby, Franks, Higgins, Horton, Ferguson
 
How It Happened
A ferocious fourth-quarter comeback attempt came up agonizingly short in Lebanon Valley's 7-6 loss to MAC Commonwealth foe Widener at Arnold Field on Saturday afternoon, April 21.
 
Kevin Beaver and Matt Torrence each tallied two points for the Flying Dutchmen (7-7, 2-4 MAC Commonwealth), with Beaver scoring twice and Torrence recording a goal and an assist. Coleman Wagner led the way on defense, finishing with six caused turnovers and six ground balls.
 
The first half was one to forget for LVC as the team fell behind 5-0 heading into the break. The second half and particularly the fourth quarter, however, was a different story entirely. The game's final 10 minutes saw the Dutchmen cut into a 7-2 deficit thanks to four consecutive goals, beginning when Max Warmingham used a spin move to shed a Widener defender from behind goal before putting his shot attempt high in the right corner of the net with 9:48 left to play.
 
Beaver netted his second goal of the game by simply outrunning his Pride defender and putting his attempt past Widener goalkeeper Matt Horton at the 4:31 mark and Matt Torrence made a great pass to a cutting Alex Bushong in front before the senior went behind his back to score a marker that cut it to 7-5 with 3:03 remaining.
 
Less than a minute later, Wagner forced a Widener turnover, Blake Weaver scooped up the loose ball, and connected with Eli Hudson running across midfield. Hudson cleared the ball and piped his shot past Horton from 15 yards out to bring LVC to within one with 2:17 left.
 
Weaver won the ensuing faceoff but the Dutchmen were unable to convert the equalizer, as the Pride (6-8, 4-1 MAC Commonwealth) took advantage of an errant LVC shot in the final half minute and ran out the clock to escape with a narrow victory.
 
Inside the Numbers
- LVC outshot the Pride 33-27 but Widener held a 17-13 advantage in shots on goal.
- Widener finished 17-of-18 on the clear, while the Dutchmen converted 21 of 25 clear attempts.
- The visitors won the faceoff battle 13-to-3.
- WU recorded 31 ground balls, compared to 28 for Lebanon Valley.
- With his pair of scores, Kevin Beaver increased his team-leading goals total to 22.
- The Dutchmen caused 13 turnovers on the day, led by Coleman Wagner's game-high six.
- Wagner scooped up six ground balls, while Blake Weaver, Nick Mowry, and Beaver gathered in three each.
- Cam Epple made 10 saves in goal for LVC.
- Widener's Matt Horton made save stops in net to earn the victory.
- Kevin Kerby's hat trick led the way for the Pride.
 
Senior Day
Prior to Saturday's contest, LVC honored the 10 outstanding young men comprising the Men's Lacrosse Class of 2018 in seniors Koty Keefer, Mike Butcher, Dillon Dunn, Alex Bushong, Ryan Maraldo, Eli Hudson, Blake Weaver, Coleman Wagner, Mason Hoff, and Adam Filbert. The group helped lead the Dutchmen to 35 wins and three playoff appearances since 2015.
 
Championship Reunion
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the men's lacrosse program's first conference championship, LVC recognized members of the 1968 MAC Title team in attendance at halftime of Saturday's game. The 1968 team finished 8-1 and defeated the likes of Villanova and Delaware en route to its first championship.
 
Who's Next?
The Dutchmen look to bounce back when they travel to Arcadia for another MAC Commonwealth contest on Wednesday night.

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