LYNCHBURG, VA – The Cabrini men's lacrosse team outscored No. 20 Lynchburg 7-2 in the third and fourth quarters to score a 13-7 victory at Lynchburg's Shellenberger Field today.  With the win, the No. 8 Cavaliers improved to 2-0, while the Hornets fell to 1-2 on the season.

Senior Evan Downey paced the Blue and White, matching a career high with five points on three goals and two assists to go with a game high five ground balls. Freshman Tyler Kostack matched the senior with three goals, marking his second hat trick in as many collegiate outings.

Sophomore Jordan Krug and senior Steve Halko recorded two goals each, with Halko's marking a career high, including his first goal since April 2015. Freshman Kevin Leyden also posted two points, pairing a goal and an assist.

Freshman goaltender Matt Nestler earned his second collegiate victory after scoring 18 saves. Junior Zack Gregory went 9-16 at the faceoff spot and scooped five ground balls.

Freshman Mike Gerzabek opened the scoring just 78 seconds after the opening whistle, but Lynchburg evened the scoring at the 10:15 mark.  The score remained tied at 1-1 until both teams engaged in a scoring flurry to open the second quarter.

Lynchburg won the opening faceoff of the second quarter and took a slim lead 20 seconds later. Cabrini senior Riley Michaels won the ensuing faceoff, as Downey scooped the loose ball and scored 10 seconds later.

The Hornets took just seconds to regain its cushion, as Seamus McDonald secured the ground ball after the next faceoff and beat Nestler for a 3-2 lead at the 14:13 mark.    

The next 14 minutes saw three lead changes and three ties as both teams battled to gain the momentum.  Downey recorded two unassisted goals to give the Blue and White a 4-4 lead, but the Hornets answered to consecutive goals of their own to take a 5-4 lead with 5:20 left in the half.

Krug and Halko scored goals in a 50 second span late in the period, sending Cabrini into the break with a 6-5 lead.

Halko's second goal came early in the second half, giving the Cavaliers a two goal cushion. Lynchburg pulled within one goal less than a minute later, but sophomore Timmy Brooks' goal started a string of five unanswered goals that put the game away for the Blue and White.

Brooks, Leyden, Kostak and Krug found the back of the net, as Cabrini pushed its lead to 12-6 three minutes into the final period.

Both teams recorded 16 shots in the decisive second half, with Lynchburg firing 13 shots on goal to 11 for Cabrini.  Nestler was up to the task, recording 11 second half saves, including seven in the third quarter alone.

Conversely, the Cavaliers figured out the Hornets' defensive approach, marking the scoring column on seven of its 13 second half shots on goal.

McDonald, Andrew Thomas and Kevin Rogers paired a goal and an assist each for Lynchburg. CJ Santora notched 15 saves, while Bo Delaney went 10-18 at the faceoff spot.

The Cavaliers will remain in Virginia for the next several days before they visit Hampden-Sydney College on Wednesday. Game time is slated for 4pm.