Washington, D.C. (Mar. 22, 2025)- The Virginia State University Men's Lacrosse team won their first game since February 22 with a 16-8 victory over fellow HBCU University of Distict Columbia.

UDC scored the first two goals of the game in the opening 10 minutes of the first period. VSU then answered scoring the final two goals of the opening stanza by Donovan Elmore, first being unassisted the second assisted by Miles Jackson. The second quarter was controlled by the Trojans. Elijah Bryant got the scoring started two and a half minutes into the period. Devray Kirkland II and Andre Bigham then added two more goals within a minute of each other to make it 5-2 at the 7:10 mark. For the next seven minutes the Trojans continued to apply the pressure by staying in their offensive third but were unable to capitalize until Kirkland II scored a goal with 30 seconds till halftime. UDC won the face off via a violation and stopped the VSU run with a goal just 11 seconds before halftime making the score 6-3 going into the half. 

Three minutes into the third period Bigham netted his second goal of the game than two minutes later Kalani Laughlin scored to make it 8-3 VSU with 9:10 remaining in the third stanza. 40 seconds later the Firebirds scored after causing a turnover. Neither team would net a goal again until Jace Wiggins saved a shot then found Laughlin for the clear who the found Elmore for a quick goal which was followed by Jayden Reid winning the face off then passed it to Bigham who then found Bryant by the crease who scored making it 10-4 with 2:51 left in the third. Then in the final minute of the stanza both Bryant and Elmore scored making 12-4 going into the fourth quarter.  

The Trojan started the fourth quarter playing defensively trying to kill clock and it took UDC three minutes to score the first goal of the final period. Kirkland and Bigham both scored a minute from one another and assisted on one another's goals making it 14-5 with nine minutes left in the game. The Trojans continued to chew clock before John Goebel scored a goal with three minutes left in the game. UDC scored three more goals, but VSU would come out on top 16-8. As a team VSU picked up 60 ground balls with Reid having a game high nine and Wiggins recorded 10 saves recording double digit saves in all but one game this season.

Virginia State now improves to 3-8 overall. They stay on the road as they travel to Malone University on Saturday March 29 for a 12 pm game.