VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Marietta College men's lacrosse team earned a solid victory as they closed out their spring break with a 12-8 win over Virginia Wesleyan University on Saturday (Mar. 9) afternoon.  With the win the Pioneers improve to 2-2 overall and with the loss the Marlins fall to 3-3 overall.  

Both teams battled through much of the first quarter with little to show on the scoreboard, but Virginia Wesleyan broke through with 4:56 left in the period as Mark Sprague found the back of the net, giving the Marlins a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers won the ensuing face off and began to step up the pressure, firing off a pair of shots before Nate Neal (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) finally scored to tie the game at one.  Both teams took the one-all tie into the second period.  
 
The Pioneers were the aggressors in a pivotal second period, quickly blasting a pair of shots at the Virginia Wesleyan goalkeeper, but none hit the mark. Virginia Wesleyan turned the tables with a successful clear on the next possession and marched down the field, getting a score from Sam Edwards to take back the lead. Marietta answered a minute later as Chase Franklin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) broke free and fired a shot into the net, tying the game at two.  After Virginia Wesleyan got a score from Ben Andrews, the Pioneers roared into the lead with a pair of goals from Neal and a goal from Josh Walters (Cleves, Ohio/Taylor) over the next few minutes to take a 5-3 lead. With a little over a minute left in the half, Tyler Reich (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin) punched in a score and Neal tacked on another score in the closing seconds. Marietta took a 7-4 lead into the intermission. 
 
Both teams battled into the third period but Marietta struck first with a score at the 12:30 mark as Sam Leininger (Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake) put the Pioneers ahead by four. Virginia Wesleyan cut the lead in half over the next eight minutes with goals from Andrew's and Edwards, but Franklin punched in another score at the 1:36 mark and Marietta led 9-6 going into the final period. 
 
After a five minute draught to begin the final period, Marietta extended the lead with trio of scores from Franklin and the Pioneers led 12-6 with less than six minutes remaining. Virginia Wesleyan got another pair of goals from Andrews but could not overcome the difference. Marietta would go on to claim the 12-8 victory. 
 
Ben Millard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) played the first 30 minutes in the net. He faced 15 shots, eight of which were on goal, and made four saves.  James Cipollone (Forest Hill, Md./Calvert Hall) played the final 30 minutes and faced 28 shots, 14 of which were on goal, and made 10 saves. 
 
Franklin led with five scores and assisted on another. Neal collected four goals and was 8-of-18 in face offs. Caden Alkire (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) led the defense with three caused turnovers and picked up four ground balls in the contest. 
 
The Pioneer will next travel to Washington and Jefferson College on Wednesday (Mar 13) for a scheduled 7 p.m. matchup

Fans can follow all of the Pioneer teams all year long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on X and Instagram.