Mar. 25th, 2002 - Emory nips Georgia Tech in Atlanta

Special to USLIA.com & SELC.org
by Dave Adams

Atlanta, GA: On an unseasonably chilly night before a crowd of 200 people, Emory University beat cross town rival and SELC conference foe Georgia Tech by a final score of 9 to 8. Before the game Georgia Tech head coach Ken Lovic was apprehensive of his team's chances stating that "I'm scared of this one, they are giant killers. They have incredible individual talent. They seem to get to our guys." Friday night was no exception.

Emory would dominate on both sides of the field throughout most of the first half. Emory attackman Alex Kolb opened the scoring for the Eagles at 5:44 into the game and Alex Bartash added a goal nearly 2 ½ minutes later. Kolb scored two additional goals to end the quarter at 4-0 Emory. The first quarter also saw Georgia Tech squander 4 man-up opportunities. Georgia Tech's sophomore Craig Cronenthal ended then Yellow Jackets scoreless run by scoring with 9 minutes. Emory would answer with 3 minutes with a goal by Ben Pyle and a final goal by Drew Ruben with 14 seconds remaining in the half to bring the score favoring the Eagles 6 to 1.

The game was closely officiated for three quarters as the Emory eagles had fourteen penalties for 11:30 to Georgia Tech's 8 penalties for 7 minutes.

Georgia Tech's sophomore midfielder Will Oakley scored three minutes into the third quarter to lead a Jacket rally. The jackets would score an additional three goals late in the third quarter to narrow the Eagle's lead to 7 to 5. Kolb two minutes into the fourth quarter only to be answered by Oakley, who scored 20 seconds later. Kolb scored his sixth and final goal with 11 minutes to play to bring the score to 9 to six. Georgia Tech's Sophomore midfielder Mike Schmidt and Will Oakley each scored within each other with 9 minutes to play to bring the game within one point. The Emory defense, led by senior Pete Rumbold staved off an intense jacket surge late in the game to seal the victory 9 to 8.

The Eagles were led by Alexander Kolb with 6 goals. Will Oakley (Wilmington, NC, St. Andrews, DE) led the scoring for the Jackets with 2 goals and 1 assist.

Game notes: What was billed as the Biggest Home Game Ever for Emory Lacrosse saw a good turnout including parents and players in the Dekalb County Youth League who played a scrimmage at halftime…. This was the first game that Emory has played at the University Woodruff PE Center this season… Both teams will travel to Blacksburg to face the Virginia Tech Hokies in the next week. Emory is at Va Tech on Sunday (3/24) and Georgia Tech is at Va Tech next weekend.

Georgia Tech at Emory
Friday, March 22, 2002
Atlanta, GA
Emory University Woodruff PE Center (Grass)

Box Score:
Team: 1st Qtr – 2nd Qtr – 3rd Qtr – 4th Qtr: Final
Georgia Tech: 0 - 1 - 4 - 3 = 8
Emory: 4 - 2 - 1 - 2 = 9

Individual Scoring:
Emory: Alex Kolb 6g; Drew Ruben 1g, 3a; Ben Pyle 1g; Alex Bartash 1g. Todd Meyer, 2a; Scott Nash 1a.
Georgia Tech: Will Oakley 4g, 1a; Jim Pallotta, 1g, 2a; Craig Kronenthal, 1g, 1a; Bob Jaeger, 1g; Mike Schmidt, 1g, Gary Bridges 1a

Saves:
Emory (Jacob Mikezda, 60 min, 14 saves, 8 goals allowed) 3, 4, 4, 3 = 14
Georgia Tech (Mike Wojtaszek, 60 min, 13 saves, 9 goals allowed) 3, 3, 3, 4 = 13

Ground balls Georgia Tech 29, Emory 40

Shots: Georgia Tech 6, 7, 7, 9 = 31; Emory 9, 7, 8, 5 = 29

Extra-Man Opportunities (EMO goals/total EMO chances):
Georgia Tech 0/4, 0/5, 1/1, 1/2 = 2/12.
Emory 1/2, 1/2, 1/3, 0/1 = 3/8

Face-offs (Face-offs won/Face Attempts):
Georgia Tech 12/9; Emory 5/12

Penalties (# of penalties/total penalty time):
Georgia Tech 8/7 min; Emory 14/11:30 min

Weather: 35, Clear
Crowd: 200 People
Officials: Thoms, Mallonee, Yates.

Selected photos by Dave Adams