Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 7, 1993 TAG: 9305070213
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
On the ceiling of the W&L training room, for the benefit of any Generals' player having an ankle taped, is a quote from former Roanoke College lacrosse player Richie Paulik.
"Bring 'em on," Paulik said in 1987. "We're the best in the ODAC and we always will be."
That was all the motivation Murtagh needed Thursday, when he recorded nine saves in the first-quarter alone and finished with 19 in the Generals' 9-8 victory at Wilson Field.
Fourth-ranked Roanoke, which trailed 5-1 after the first period, made it interesting on a goal by James Kammerman with 18.3 seconds left but never got the ball back and dropped to 10-4.
"If we didn't play another game, it would be the fourth-best record in school history behind three teams that went to the [national] final," Roanoke coach Bill Pilat said, "but we've got higher aspirations."
Pilat hopes the NCAA will see fit to invite two teams from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference to the NCAA Tournament, with No. 10 W&L (11-2) apparently now having an edge over the Maroons.
"It's the biggest win since I've been here," said fourth-year W&L coach Jim Stagnitta. "My first year we beat sixth-ranked Franklin and Marshall, but there was a lot more involved here."
W&L captured its second men's lacrosse championship in seven years as an ODAC member, going 6-0 in the league. The Maroons had won four of the previous five meetings between the teams.
"They're deeper than we are; they're more athletic than we are," Stagnitta said. "That first quarter, going up 5-1 like we did, is about as good as we can possibly play."
Pilat did not fault his team's preparation or its will. The difference was Murtagh, whose college experience before this year consisted of two games without a save.
Murtagh did not try out for the team as a sophomore and was playing pick-up basketball when approached last year by Stagnitta. He was not listed on the Generals' 1992 roster.
"He played great today," said Pilat, an ex-Roanoke College goalie. "I knew he was having a good year, but we had never shot a ball against him until today."
The Maroons, down 6-3 at the half, cut the deficit to 7-6 on an extra-man goal by Brett Smith with 13:10 left, but three penalties in the space of 1:20 effectively killed the Maroons' momentum.
"In a game like this you need to let the players play, not let it be decided by man-up or man-down situations," Pilat said. "I think the flags came out of the pockets too much."
W&L got three extra-man goals, two by senior midfielder John Hunter, who finished with three goals and two assists. Smith had three goals, pushing his total to 56 in 14 games for Roanoke.
The Generals finish the regular season Saturday at VMI in the Lee-Jackson Classic. A Roanoke-W&L rematch is definitely possible in the tournament.
Stagnitta would like to see the ODAC teams play outside opposition, "but," Pilat said, "if they ask us to play in the tournament, I'm not going to be particular."
by CNB