SWANNANOA, N.C. – The Brevard College men's lacrosse team (1-2) won the fourth annual Battle of the Blue Ridge with a dramatic 12-10 win over host Warren Wilson (0-2) on Saturday afternoon at the Hank Steinbrecher Sports Complex in Swannanoa, North Carolina.   The Tornados have won all four meetings of the Battle of the Blue Ridge since the rivalry's inception in 2022.
 
Senior Michael Peters led all players with five goals on eight shots taken, including seven shots-on-goal.  Scott Bundy, Gage Khayat and Brice Peterson each scored two goals with Matt Smith adding a goal as well for the Tornados.  Khayat and Peterson each had two assists to further contribute to the BC attack.
 
Warren Wilson was led by Jayshawn Bruce who scored four goals along with three goals from Ethan Damm and two goals from Jude Searles.
 
Senior Jack Hicks (1-2) earned the win in goal for the Tornados, recording six saves while playing all 60 minutes of the contest.  WWC goalkeeper Anthony Verala (0-2) recorded 13 saves in the losing effort for the Owls.
 
After nearly six minutes of scoreless lacrosse to start the rivalry game, Khayat opened the scoring with a goal for the Tornados.
 
Damm answered four minutes later to tie the match at 1-1 before Bruce scored as well to give the hosts a 2-1 lead after the first quarter.
 
The second period started with BC's Bundy finding the back of the net off an assist by Khayat to tie the match at two apiece.  The two teams traded goals through the rest of the second quarter with the Owls taking a 6-5 lead into halftime following a goal by Conor Bril with just four seconds left prior to intermission.
 
Following halftime, Peterson found the equalizer with a goal coming with just under 12 minutes left in the third stanza.  Peters then came alive later in the period with back-to-back goals just minutes apart to put BC back ahead 8-7.
 
WWC tied the match up once again to open the fourth period before Peterson struck for his second goal to put Brevard ahead 9-8.  Peters then scored his fifth goal of the day to stretch the BC lead to two goals. 
 
Warren Wilson fought back with two goals in the next two minutes to tie the match at 10-10, the ninth tied score of the day.  The BC defense then locked down the Owl attack, holding the hosts scoreless for the final 8:49 of the game.
 
With the defense holding the Owls in check, BC then found the go-ahead goal by Bundy off a Peterson assist with 2:42 to play.  Smith then added insurance with a goal off another assist by Peterson in the final minute of action.
 
Brevard finished off the win in the final minute to keep the Battle of the Blue Ridge trophy for the fourth consecutive year.
 
The Tornados returns to action on Friday, February 28 with a non-conference home game at 4:30 p.m. vs Hanover at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
 
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