Lacrosse Cruises Past Florida Tech

MARS HILL. N.C. - The Lions set season highs in points, goals and assists as they defeated the Panthers of Florida Tech, 17-3, in the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium Sunday afternoon in a steady, cold rain. Mars Hill improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the DSC. The Panthers fell to 0-3 on the year and 0-2 in the league.

T.J. Cowx scored five goals and had two assists to lead the Lions' offense. He added a pair of ground balls. Taylor Thilo followed with three goals and two assists. Thilo also recorded four caused turnovers and picked up three ground balls. Jimmy McBride, Dan Applebaum, Blake Mattinson and Ryan Sage scored two goals each in the victory. Jamie Raezer led MHC with a game high three assists. Dylan Price played 45 minutes in the net for MHC and made six saves allowing just a single goal. Jesse Mimken played the final 15 minutes in goal for the Lions and made three saves. Chris Cudmore and Dalton Jernigan led the Lions' defense with three caused turnovers apiece. Cudmore had eight ground balls in the contest.

Ryan Bailey led the Panthers with a goal and a assist. Mason Cook played all 60 minutes in goal for FIT and made 15 saves.

Mars Hill outshot the Panthers, 47-17. The Lions won the ground ball battle, 58-20 and was 1-2 in extra man opportunities. Florida Tech was 0-6 in extra man chances. MHC also won 14-24 face-offs.

McBride put the first goal on the board for the Lions at the 13:34 mark of the first quarter and MHC never looked back. The Lions led 10-1 after the first frame and then outscored the Panthers 2-0 in the second quarter to enjoy a 12-1 lead at the intermission. After winning the third stanza 2-0, the Lions outscored the Panthers 3-2 in the fourth period to make the final tally 17-3.

Mars Hill will host Coker College on Wednesday, February 22. Game time is set for a 7 p.m. start.