BETHANY, WVa. – Following a sluggish third quarter, head coach Domenic Marzano didn't have to say a word.
The three captains – Alexander Gossard (Galloway, OH/Hilliard Bradley), Austin Johnston (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Bradley) and Jalen Jackson (Hilliard, OH/Bradley) – did all of speaking.
"For the first time this season, our leadership took over," said Marzano. "The captains stepped up and told them what needed to be done, and we went out and executed in the fourth quarter."
With six straight goals in the fourth quarter, the Wilmington College men's lacrosse team won their fourth consecutive game – beating Bethany, 17-8, in non-conference action at Bison Stadium.
Gossard scored twice in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, the first assisted by freshman Devon Maki (Pickerington, OH/Central) and the other assisted by Jackson. He later assisted on a goal by Jackson four minutes later.
Maki and Jackson capped the fourth-quarter scoring with an unassisted goal each.
The scoring outburst in the final quarter was in stark contrast of the third quarter as the Bisons got back into the game by outscoring WC, 4-1. Bethany tallied three straight goals to end the quarter to pull to within three.
Bethany took an early 2-1 lead before freshman Jhordan Lang (Sunbury, OH/Big Walnut) took over. He tied the game with 3:51 remaining in the first quarter, and then gave Wilmington a lead it wouldn't relinquish with a goal nine seconds later. Lang scored again with one second remaining in the quarter to boost the lead to 4-2.
Wilmington outscored the Bisons 6-2 in the second quarter to take a 10-4 lead into halftime. The Fightin' Quakers dominated the score sheet with 62 shots and held BC to just 22. They also held the advantage in groundballs, 38-30, and forced 35 turnovers.
"They dropped into a zone, and we took a lot of shots," said Marzano. "We took some shots that we normally make, so we kept taking them. Our offensive chemistry is clicking."
Lang tied his career-high with six goals and has scored in each of the last four games. He has scored at least three goals in five of the eight games, and Wilmington is 6-0 in games that Lang scores.
Maki finished with four goals and three assists, while winning 13 of 23 faceoffs. He added 13 groundballs and three caused turnovers. Jackson tallied three goals and two assists, and Gossard finished with three goals and one assists.
Wilmington (6-2) hosts LaRoche 7:30 p.m. Wednesday as part of a college lacrosse doubleheader at Williams Stadium. The women's team plays Loras 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.