On Saturday, the Kenyon men’s lacrosse team traveled to Columbus to face the Capital University Comets. A fast start and a timely streak of goals in the third quarter helped to propel the Lords over the home team. On Wednesday, the Lords then defeated Otterbein University 13-5.

The Lords wasted no time asserting themselves against the Comets on Saturday. Cameron Longway ’25 scored twice within a minute, which set the tone for the first quarter. Kenyon added two more goals to take a 4-0 lead at the quarter break. The score stayed that way for the remainder of the first half. Mayo Amorello ’22 was a wall in net, making 6 saves in the first half. 

The second half was more of the same for Kenyon. Longway scored less than two minutes into the third quarter. Ian Gobron ’22, who dominated the faceoffs, won the ensuing draw and quickly turned to attack. He found Joe Bolea ’22, who put the ball in the back of the net to put the Lords up by 6. However, over the next four minutes, the Comets scored four straight goals. With five minutes left in the third, Will Harrigan ’22 scored to stop the Comets’ run.

Kenyon began the fourth quarter by scoring two goals in the first five minutes. Up 9-4, the Lords were poised to run out the clock and head back home with a win. However, the Comets started to make another run,  cutting the Lords lead to three with just under eight minutes remaining. The Lords buckled down on defense again, not allowing another goal for the next five minutes. The Comets scored at the two-minute mark to tighten the game. But Kenyon did not allow another goal, and held on 9-7. 

Amorello appreciated the Lords’ goals. “I’m extremely proud of how [we] responded to giving up a few goals, d-mids and close defense played awesome,” he said. The Lords’ win was a collective effort. “I am really proud of the way our whole team played,” Gobron said. “I think the game went well. It was great to get a tough-earned win in our first game on the road!” 

Even so, Gobron also expressed the need to maintain the same energy throughout the game. Longway agreed and stated that winning by two against Capital shows the Lords that no team can be taken for granted. “We still have a lot to work on and I believe we have not reached our full potential on the offensive side of the ball,” he said. 

On Wednesday, the Lords returned home to play the Otterbein Cardinals. Longway recorded another hat trick. Declan Curry ’22 also scored three goals in the game. While the game remained close for the first part of the opening quarter, the Lords soon cruised to victory. Rowan Goldin ’24 scored with 10 minutes into the contest to give the Lords a 4-2 lead, and by the end of the second quarter, the Lords led 7-3. 

Amorello took charge in net, leading the defense to a dominant performance and holding the Cardinals to only five goals in the game. He picked up his third win of the season, as Kenyon now holds a 3-0 record. 

After their win against Otterbein, the Lords will face a tough test against the No. 9-ranked Franklin and Marshall College next Wednesday before continuing on the road to face Centre College in Danville, Ky. Kenyon will next play at home on March 16 against Adrian College (Mich).