Randolph-Macon Men's Lacrosse came up just two goals short against Catholic Saturday afternoon in the Yellow Jackets' home opener for 2019. The Basics Score: Catholic 11, Randolph-Macon 9 Location/Venue: Ashland, Va./Day Field Records: Catholic (1-1), Randolph-Macon (1-1) How It Happened Catholic got the first score of the game at the 12:33 mark in the first quarter. R-MC's defense held the Cardinals to just the lone goal for much of the first period, but the Cardinals were able to score a pair of goals in quick succession at 5:57 to go and 4:28 to go in the quarter. Catholic tacked one on at 2:54 to go ahead 4-0. Randolph-Macon was able to get one back just seconds after the Cardinal score as junior Brendan Markovic (Westminster, MD / Winters Mill) took a pass from fellow junior Tyler Flora (Mechanicsville, VA / Hanover) and sent it into the cage. Flora handled the goal all himself four minutes into the second period to cut the Catholic lead to 4-2. It was one of four goals in the period for the Yellow Jackets, while the Cardinals scored three in the seven-goal quarter. Markovic took a pass from junior Ryan Tiffey (Columbia, MD / Wilde Lake) into goal in a man-up situation with 7:42 to go. Catholic added a goal seconds later. Tiffey got an assist from his brother, freshman Andrew Tiffey (Columbia, MD / Wilde Lake) around the 3:30 mark as R-MC again cut the Cardinals lead to two. But again Catholic scored to strengthen its position before Flora finished the quarter with his second unassisted goal of the period with under a minute to play, leaving the Randolph-Macon deficit at two for halftime. All of the scoring in the third quarter came in the early stages. Catholic scored with 11:34 to go, extending its lead to three. Junior Colin DiSesa (Ashland, VA / Hanover) cut the lead once more after a pass from freshman Brandon Smith (Richmond, VA / Douglas Freeman) helped him net a goal with 9:53 to go. But the Cardinals put the lead back at three seconds later in the last offensive strike of the third period. A quick goal by Randolph-Macon put them back in familiar territory early in the fourth quarter. Andrew Tiffey hit a goal after fellow freshman Derek Marsilio (Harrisburg, PA / Bishop McDevitt) gave him a pass he took into the cage. About four minutes later, R-MC got closer than any time previous – a one-goal deficit – after junior Andrew Hogg (Charlottesville, VA / Albemarle) scored on a pass from fellow junior James Mahan (Salem, VA / Salem). Catholic scored once more about a minute after Hogg's goal, but Ryan Tiffey got close again with a goal around the seven-minute mark. Tiffey scored with an assist to senior Ty Anderson (Chestertown, MD / Kent County). Catholic added one more to settle the final score at 11-9. Inside The Numbers Markovic, Ryan Tiffey and Flora each tallied two goals on the day. Anderson and DiSesa led the Yellow Jackets with six shots on the afternoon. Anderson had three shots land on goal. Junior Ben Swavely (Downingtown, PA / Downingtown East) picked up five ground balls in the contest. Senior Austin Evans (Glen Allen, VA / Glen Allen) caused a trio of turnovers, while junior Merrick Wood (Arnold, MD / Severna Park), sophomore Camden Stramanak (Annapolis, MD / Annapolis), and freshman Thomas Gentry (Richmond, VA / Douglas S. Freeman) along with Flora each caused one. Senior Chris Cerrina (Ridgewood, NJ / Ridgewood) made 13 saves in goal for the Yellow Jackets. Randolph-Macon held the 12-9 edge in faceoffs. Junior Joe Maranto (Joppa, MD / Fallston\) won seven while sophomore Jack Silvernale (Warrenton, VA / Highland School) won five. R-MC held the edge picking up ground balls in the match – 24-22. Up Next Randolph-Macon will face Goucher next Saturday at Day Field at 1:00 PM.