VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. Clay Stevenson stood tall in the face of bombardment, recording 18 saves and facing a total of 62 shots in the Methodist men's lacrosse's 9-5 loss to host Virginia Wesleyan University in non-conference action Saturday afternoon.
Stevenson was instrumental in keeping this game close for the Monarchs. He was one save away from tying his career-high of 19 that he set in 2019, and the 62 shots that he faced were a new career mark, nine more than the 53 he faced in a 2018 game.
The Marlins had a 5-1 lead entering halftime and scored three goals in the final period to stave off any potential Methodist rally. Offensively,
Bryce Kephart was responsible for all five of the Monarchs' goals. He had three goals and assisted on the other two.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Virginia Wesleyan def. Methodist, 9-5
Records: Methodist 1-2; Virginia Wesleyan 2-0
Location: Birdsong Field; Virginia Beach, Va.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Kephart had closed the gap when he scored to cut the deficit to 5-3 with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. Two minutes before Kephart's goal, Kephart assisted on a Connor Glenn goal at the 11-minute mark to make it a 5-2 game.
- Mark Chatt took advantage of an extra-man opportunity to start the second quarter, assisting on a Kephart goal 19 seconds into the stanza.
- Kephart did his best to counter Virginia Wesleyan. The Marlins scored nine seconds into the fourth quarter for a 7-3 lead and Kephart returned 41 seconds later with a score of his own. Andrew Honn recovered a loose ball and Patrick Rowell assisted on the goal.
- Two consecutive Virginia Wesleyan goals in the fourth quarter were backbreakers as the Marlins led 9-4 with under nine minutes to play.
- The first quarter was all Virginia Wesleyan as the Marlins scored three goals, the only goals of the period.
STAT FACTS
- It is tough to win without possession of the ball. Virginia Wesleyan had a 50-17 advantage in ground balls and a 14-3 edge in faceoffs.
- Stevenson had eight of his 18 saves in the fourth quarter alone.
- Glenn scored two goals.
- Andrew Mayefskie recovered a team-high four ground balls and Thyree Carson led with two caused turnovers.
UP NEXT
The Monarchs' game against visiting Guilford College on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. is the first of three consecutive home games at Monarch Stadium for Methodist.
