Colorado College’s men’s lacrosse began their season far away from the Rocky Mountains with a pair of wins over Berry College in Georgia and Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama with final scores of 14-8 and 14-6, respectively.
The Tigers traveled to Rome, Ga. to start their season with a game against the Berry College Vikings in Valhalla stadium last Friday. The Vikings started the game at an excellent pace, scoring twice in the first four minutes to put the Tigers in a two-point deficit. CC quickly rallied with goals from first year attackman Chris Bower, first year midfielder Drew Wiseman, and junior attackman Austin Davie to end the first period 3-2.
Berry College came out strong once again and scored twice more early in the second period to gain a 4-3 lead. However, the comeback was short lived. Davie was able to slip past the Viking defense for a pair of goals to regain a 5-4 lead. Before the end of the second half, Berry College found the net to tie the score at 5-5. Soon after, first year midfielder Tyler Borko put the Tigers back in the lead where they would stay the rest of the game. The Tigers dominated the second half, scoring eight more times while holding their opponents to just three for a final score of 14-8.
A couple days later, on Sunday, the Colorado College men’s lacrosse team kept their season-opener momentum going as they dominated Birmingham-Southern in a 14-6 win. In the first period the Tiger offense was in full control taking a 4-0 lead. Senior goaltender Chase Murphy, who recorded double-digit saves for the second game in a row and the 23rd time in his career, blocked all seven shots that came his way. However, the Birmingham-Southern Panthers were finally able to capitalize in the second period. Panthers Keenan Hudsmith and McHale Schneider both scored in the final minute before halftime to narrow the Tiger’s lead to just one with the scoreboard at halftime reading 5-4.
In the second half the Tigers seemed to reach their full potential. Davie scored three of his four goals in the second half. After the teams traded goals in the beginning of the third period, senior attackmen Robert Prior, Borko, and Davie all connected with the back of the net to give the Tigers a 9-5 cushion.
CC put the game away in the fourth quarter with two goals from Davie and one a piece from first year attackman Drew Wiseman, sophomore attackman Robert Stern, and Chris Bower for a final score of 14-6.
“Overall it was a good weekend,” said head coach Sean Woods. “Standout players include Austin Davie who scored eight goals and one assist on the weekend. Sophomore Midfielder Jackson Kaplan who had a 59 face off percentage and 11 ground balls as well as Chase Murphy who had 25 saves in 12 goals against which is a 67 save percentage. While we were inconsistent, we played very hard and executed in most areas of our game. We have to improve. We have a very tough stretch coming up.”
Colorado College’s men’s lacrosse begins a nine game home slate on Saturday, Feb. 20 on Washburn Field against the Adams State University Grizzlies.