2007 Roundup

The 2007 Lynchburg College men’s lacrosse team finished with a 13-4 overall record and fell just one game short of capturing the program’s third Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) title in the last six years.

The Hornets started the season off strong with wins in each of their first seven contests, all by at least three goals. Three of the squad’s losses were by a combined four goals.

Junior Ryan Cranston enjoyed a fine season from his midfield position and received multiple awards at season’s end. The second-team All-American and first-team All-ODAC and all-state honoree posted 31 goals and 50 points.

Senior defender Brandon Fell also earned All-American honors, taking a third-team spot. He anchored a Hornet backline that allowed just 7.88 goals per game and scooped 36 ground balls. Fell also was a first-team and all-conference honoree. Sophomore attack Tyler Tolson was an honorable mention to the All-American and joined Cranston and Fell on the all-state and all-ODAC first-teams. He led the team and was second in the conference with 57 goals.

Junior attack Stephen Weis earned second-team all-state and all-conference honors after finishing with 22 goals and a team-high 28 assists. Senior attack Brian McCulloch closed out a superb career with 31 goals and 14 assists, tying for second on the team in goals.

Freshman Ryan Butler became a starter on defense immediately, and was one of just four Hornets to start in all 17 games. Junior Chris Perzenski also started 17 times on defense and added 42 groundballs, while senior Todd Collier was in the starting lineups 13 times. Junior goalie Garrett Curran earned honorable mention all-conference accolades after stopping nearly 60 percent of opponents’ shots with 180 saves. Freshman Ethan Farrell emerged as the team’s top face-off man, and started 14 times and corralled 47 groundballs.

Offensively, LC outscored the opposition by over 100 goals and netted nine or more goals in 16 of 17 games. Junior midfielder Kyle McGuire was fifth on the team with 37 points and second with 26 assists. Junior attack Johnny Black had 22 goals and eight assists while freshman attack Austin Jeter scored 17 times, including two game-winners. Senior Leon Bournes had 13 goals and four assists and sophomore attack Michael Mundorf tallied seven goals and nine assists.

Sophomore midfielder Kyle Fortman competed in 16 games and scored five times, while freshman Jonathan Matta started four times and played in 15 contests. Senior Rob Wittstadt played 12 times and started once in the midfield while sophomore Chet Corey and freshman Josh Wynne were important reserves. Versatile Junior Norby King emerged as one of the team’s better face-off men at mid-season, and started four times. The future of the defensive unit looks strong with freshmen Brandon Poteet, Shane Roscher and Kevin McCloskey all battling for a starting position and playing time.