Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Freshman Tommy Heller (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) poured in five goals and one assist while senior Paul Werner (Westfield, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) added three goals and two assists, leading the fifth-ranked Gettysburg College men's lacrosse team to a big 13-9 win over 13th-ranked Lynchburg College Saturday afternoon in non-conference action.
 
Heller's five goals were the most by a Gettysburg first-year since current assistant coach Robby Maddux '15 scored six in a 10-6 win over Eastern University on April 11, 2012.
 
Sophomore goalie Tim Brady (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) added 10 saves for the Bullets (2-1), who avenged a loss to Lynchburg in last year's NCAA Division III semifinals. Junior long-stick midfielder Chris Palladino (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) helped power the defense with six ground balls and three caused turnovers.
 
Gettysburg never trailed in the game and closed the first half on a 4-0 run to assume an 8-3 halftime advantage. The Hornets were unable to get closer than three the rest of the way.
 
Senior Mike Distler (Lutherville, Md./Loyola Blakefield) added two goals and one assist for Gettysburg, which outshot Lynchburg 46-35, held a 33-23 advantage in ground balls, and went 16-for-18 on clears.
 
Chris Hawley made 18 saves for the Hornets (1-3) while Aaron Murphy and Austin Stewart scored three goals apiece.
 
Heller scored Gettysburg's first three goals and four of the team's first five tallies. He struck just eight seconds into the game before Lynchburg answered on the ensuing face-off, making it 1-1 just 21 seconds into the contest.
 
The two sides traded goals again when Heller converted an extra-man opportunity with 7:52 left in the opening quarter before Stewart pulled the Hornets even with 2:45 on the clock. But Gettysburg answered with two goals over the remainder of the period and would lead the rest of the way. Heller struck with 2:32 left before senior Jameson Smith (Glen Ridge, N.J./Glen Ridge) followed up with 33 ticks showing, giving the Orange and Blue a 4-2 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
 
Stewart netted a man-up goal just 19 seconds into the second quarter before the Bullets embarked on their decisive 4-0 run. Heller kicked off the surge with 12:24 on the clock when he potted his fourth goal of the day before freshman Mike Risser (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) followed up with 9:30 remaining in the half to make it 6-3. Werner then got into the act with a pair of goals, the second coming with 4:32 left, to make it a five-goal game at the break.
 
Lynchburg threatened in the third quarter, when it opened the period on a 3-1 run. After the Hornets started the period with a man-up tally, Distler answered with 12:49 remaining to make it 9-4. Lynchburg responded with back-to-back goals, however, to close the gap to 9-6 with 10:50 on the clock.
 
The Bullets would blank the Hornets over the remainder of the quarter, however, closing the stanza on a 3-0 run. Distler scored again with 9:27 showing, then set up a Werner man-up goal with 5:37 on the clock. Freshman Blake Gray (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh School) followed up with his first collegiate goal at the 5:11 mark, making it 12-6 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Hornets scored the first two goals of the final period to cut the deficit to four with 7:04 left. However, Heller provided an insurance tally with 4:46 remaining while Brady made five of his saves in the final quarter.
 
Gettysburg continues its season on Wednesday, when it visits 20th-ranked York (Pa.) College at 3 p.m.