MEMPHIS, Tenn. (February 18, 2022) - The Whittier College Poets found success in their first game in almost two years, defeating the Rhodes Lynx 13-9 at Crain Field on Friday night. The loss drops Rhodes to 0-3 on the season. 

Drew Downes continued his hot start to the year with his fifth goal of the year less than a minute into the game. Whittier had a massive response, netting three goals of their own in a 54-second span to take a 3-1 lead. Matt Leone and Conor Casey brought the Lynx back, scoring a pair just a minute apart to knot the score at three. The Poets were the next to strike, taking a 4-3 lead at the eight-minute mark that would close out the first quarter. 

The pace of play slowed down tremendously in the second quarter as only three balls found the back of the net. Unfortunately, all three came from Poet shots, giving them a 7-3 lead at the half. 

Both teams found their aggression after halftime. Whittier added one more to extend their lead to 8-3, but a pair of quick ones from Tyler Pellegrino and Ryan Dancy kept the Lynx within fighting distance. Dancy would add a second and Jonathon Hazelhurst got in on the action as well before the end of the quarter, but Rhodes still trailed 11-7.

Two quick strikes from Whittier in the fourth gave them a 13-7 lead. From there it was a all about clock management as they ran the shot clock down as much as possible. Rhodes did manage to score twice more, thanks to Downes and Casey, but could get anything else to drop for the last six minutes of the game, leading to a 13-9 defeat. 

Downes, Dancy, Casey and Leone each had two points for the Lynx. Grant Jenson ws a balhawk in this one, scooping five ground balls. Brendan Roberts took the loss, but also stopped 16 shots along the way. 

The Lynx will hit the road next weekend as they take on Denison on Saturday February 26 and Transylvania on Sunday February 27.