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Georgia Men's Lacrosse Season Ends in SELC Tournament

The Georgia men’s club lacrosse team began SELC Tournament play on Friday night, taking on South Carolina at Alpharetta High School, where Raider alumnus and Bulldog junior midfielder D.J. Nuckolls opened the scoring for the Red and Black. The Gamecocks tied the game and took the lead before senior faceoff specialist Harrison Cassada snarled the score off of a bounce.

Early in the second quarter, senior attack Michael Trainer struck the South Carolina goalie in the face with a shot, fazing the goaltender until Nuckolls could find the back of the net to make it 3-2. The tally was knotted at intermission, and the Garnet and Black took a one-goal lead at the start of the second half. Freshman midfielder Cory Phillips made it a 4-4 contest when he stung the top left corner, but South Carolina was back out in front as the third period came to a close.

Junior midfielder Cayman Sotudeh once more evened the score with 13 minutes remaining in the game, then second-team All-SELC senior midfielder and Alpharetta High graduate George Walker reclaimed the lead for the Athenians with another shot in the top left corner. The Gamecocks refused to go away, however, tying the game at six goals per side with 65 seconds showing on the clock. Following a Georgia timeout with 17 seconds to play, a shot by sophomore midfielder John Newar, a missed catch by Walker, and a trickle into the goal gave Georgia the 7-6 victory.

The Bulldogs’ bizarre triumph over South Carolina sent them to the semifinals against Virginia Tech at Northview High School on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, the Hokies came into the game undefeated and ranked ninth in the land, and the Gobblers leapt out to a 3-0 lead before Phillips notched the Classic City Canines’ first goal of the game. By the time Nuckolls added a second score for Georgia, VPI had found the back of the net seven times. Phillips tacked on a late goal for the Red and Black’s final score, but Virginia Tech lived up to its billing, advancing with the 13-3 win that ended the Athenians’ season.

The 2015 Georgia men’s club lacrosse team ended its campaign with a 12-3 record that included victories over Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee. I don’t care what sport you’re discussing, that’s an achievement worthy of celebrating, and I hope all of Bulldog Nation will join me in saluting these damn good ‘Dawgs.

Go ‘Dawgs!

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