WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University men's lacrosse team celebrated a major career milestone for senior goalie Mark Isabelle during its penultimate regular season home game against Lynchburg on Saturday. Despite a 20–3 loss to the 13th-ranked Hornets (Inside Lacrosse) and a team receiving votes in the USA Lacrosse rankings, Isabelle became the first player in program and ODAC history to reach 1,000 career saves.
Shenandoah (5–10, 2–6 ODAC) was led offensively by Cody Griffis, who netted two goals, and Dylan Foughty, who scored the other. Isabelle anchored the defense with 19 saves in net, surpassing the 1,000-save mark in the process.
Lynchburg dominated several statistical categories, winning the ground ball battle 54–24, face offs 18–9, and caused turnovers 12–7. Jason Forchetti led the team in face off wins, going 7-for-17, and tied with Griffis and Jake Green for the team lead in ground balls with four apiece. Defensively, Sam Poster and Hunter Snow each caused two turnovers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Shenandoah won the opening face off, but Lynchburg quickly forced a turnover and scored on their first offensive possession to take an early 1–0 lead. They followed up with a second goal moments later after winning the ensuing face off. Isabelle turned away Lynchburg's next shot, and following a caused turnover, Shenandoah struck back. Foughty scored off a long transition pass from Jonathan Hammond to cut the deficit to 2–1.
Lynchburg responded with four unanswered goals to close the first quarter with a 6–1 advantage.
To begin the second quarter, Shenandoah again won the face off but turned the ball over, allowing Lynchburg to score and extend their lead to 7–1. Shenandoah pushed to respond with shot attempts from Poster, Matt Daniel, and Dylan Taylor, but Lynchburg's keeper held firm.
Isabelle kept Shenandoah in the game with three straight saves, and after a timeout, Griffis had a shot saved, recovered the ground ball, and scored on the second effort to make it 7–2. Shenandoah held Lynchburg scoreless for the remainder of the half and drew three penalties on a single play. The Hornets capitalized on the man-up opportunity with Griffis scoring his second goal off a feed from Green to cut it to 7–3 at halftime.
However, Lynchburg took control in the second half, shutting out Shenandoah while scoring seven goals in the third quarter and six more in the fourth to seal the 20–3 win.
UP NEXT
Shenandoah heads to Greensboro, North Carolina, for its final regular season road game at Guilford College. Opening face off is set for 12 p.m. on Saturday.
#GoSUHornets
