Lacrosse Rallies for 13-10 Victory on Senior Day

MARS HILL, N.C. - The no. 10 Mars Hill College lacrosse team scored the first five goals of the second half, rallying for a 13-10 Deep South Conference victory over visiting Wingate University Saturday at the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium on the MHC campus. Senior attack T.J. Cowx and freshman attack Taylor Thilo had three goals each for the Lions.

Mars Hill improves to 11-1 overall and 6-1 in the DSC. Wingate is 4-8 overall and 3-4 in the DSC. The Lions will step out of the league fray on April 7, visiting number six Limestone College for a 1 p.m. contest. The Bulldogs host DSC foe Catawba College also on Saturday, April 7 at 2 p.m.

Wingate senior attack men Travis Barrett and David Lee had three goals each to lead the Bulldogs. Junior attack Derek Watts had one goal and a game-high five assists for the visitors.

Lee and Barrett had back-to-back goals to give Wingate a 2-0 lead with 1:16 remaining in the first quarter. Thilo and Cowx answered, scoring one goal each to tie the score. The two Lion goals were separated by 44 seconds, with Cowx finding the back of the nets with 15 ticks left on the first-quarter clock.

The two goals started a 4-0 run for the hosts, as Thilo scored on an assist from senior midfield Cade Zulak to conclude the flurry at the 6:54 mark. Barrett, Lee and the Bulldogs answered by scoring four of the last five goals in the second stanza. Barrett's tally with 33 seconds to go (on an assist from Watts) gave Wingate a 6-5 at intermission.

The Lions returned from the halftime locker room on a mission, as five different players scored one goal each to give Mars Hill a 10-6 advantage. Thilo started the run and Cowx ended the flurry with 1:53 to play in the third frame. Wingate junior attack Taylor Womble and senior midfield Bryan Bayliss ended the drought with one goal each, cutting the Bulldog deficit to 10-8 at the third-quarter horn. Wingate would get no closer down the stretch.

Mars Hill outshot Wingate 46-29, including a 26-14 advantage in the second half. The Bulldogs won 15-of-26 face-offs, led by sophomore midfield Bryce Sneed. Zulak had two goals for the Lions, while freshman attack Ryan Sage also found the back of the net twice.

Wingate senior goalkeeper Danny Dlugozima went the distance, collecting a season-high 19 saves. He allowed 13 goals. Mars Hill senior net minder Dylan Price earned his 11th victory of the season, surrendering 10 goals and recording 14 saves in 60 minutes of action.

Prior to the contest, MHC recognized their 11 senior players. Those players are: T.J. Cowx, Chris Cudmore, Brian Dowdle, Chad Howson, Kiernan Limming, Dalton Jernigan, Blake Mattinson, Dylan Price, Spencer Stobbe, Tyler Wilcox and Cade Zulak.