By Brooke Paulshock
Elm Staff Writer
The Washington College men’s lacrosse team has returned to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division III National Top 20 for the first time in three years.
In overtime against host Dickinson College, junior attackman Bennett Cord scored the game-winning goal with 30 seconds left. The Shoremen improve to 8-3 overall with eight consecutive wins, and remaining undefeated in the conference. This win over the then fifth ranked team in the country helped them move to number 15 in the country. The team is on a roll as of late and have earned the national attention they have begun to receive.
Head Coach Jeff Shirk is proud of his team and happy they are seeing a reward for all their commitment and effort they have put in throughout the season.
“They have all sacrificed so much to be on this team,” said Shirk. “Being able to experience the joys of victory makes it all worth while.”
Good leadership and a group of men who are willing to make sacrifices for the betterment of the team is proven to be the key to success for the Shoremen.
“Each player has started to put the team first and themselves second,” said Shirk. “When this occurs within a team it allows for great things to happen.”
Leading the team in points in the win against fifth-ranked Dickinson on Saturday was junior midfielder Patrick Coyle, with three goals and an assist.
Senior goalie Peter Stewart had a total of 17 saves. Making a game-ending save with only 2:09 left in overtime, Stewart had a successful clear attempt to freshman attacker Grant Hughes which ended with the game-winning goal by Cord.
Washington is responding well to their winning streak. They continue to work hard in practice, the main reason they have won eight games in a row.
Washington will put its undefeated conference record on the line as they play against 17th-ranked Gettysburg this Saturday in a battle for first place in the Centennial standings. Face-off is set for 1 p.m. on Kibler Field.