Last-Second Goal Lifts Lions Over Redhawks

GREENSBORO, N.C.- Kile Garrett's goal as time expired lifted Mars Hill to a 6-5 victory over Roberts Wesleyan in a defensive-dominated neutral site contest Sunday afternoon at Appenzeller Field.

Ryan Herrmann won the face-off with 13 seconds to play and Anthony Malcolm picked up the ground ball. Zach Tomkinson found Garrett streaking in on the wing in the closing seconds and Garrett found the back of the net to lift the Lions to the victory. Mars Hill improved to 2-0 on the season. Roberts Wesleyan opens their season 0-1.

Five different Mars Hill players scored in the victory, paced by Kevin Eskridge's two snipes. Ekridge added an assist and a ground ball. Garrett, Will Scott, Dan Applebaum and Ryan Sage scored the other Lions goals. Patrick McMahon made five saves to earn the victory in net for the Lions. Herrmann notched a team-high six ground balls won 6-of-8 face-offs. The Lions outshot the Redhawks 40-18.

Matt Hamilton made nine saves in net for Roberts Wesleyan. Dan Cianfrano and Craig Petit each scored two goals for the Redhawks. Anthony Nucci Lauria notched a team-high five ground balls.

The Redhawks went up 1-0 early when Petit scored on the man-advantage with 10:53 to play in the opening period. Eskridge answered to tie the score 1-1 on a feed from Jimmy McBride, who picked up three assists on the afternoon. Roberts Wesleyan took a 2-1 lead on Cianfrano's first goal of the afternoon. The Redhawks held a 9-6 advantage in shots in the period, the only stanza in which they held an advantage.

Mars Hill bounced back with two goals in the second to take the lead. Sage scored on a feed from Garrett and Eskridge notched his second tally on another feed from McBride. The Lions held a 7-2 advantage in shots in the period.

Cianfrano notched the only goal of the third to tie the score at three.

Tyler Kleehammer gave Roberts Wesleyan the lead on an unassisted tally with 10:06 to play in the fourth before the Lions came back with two unanswered to take the lead. Scott tied the score with 8:24 remaining, with McBride picking up his final assist of the day. With 3:52 to play, Applebaum fired a ripper into the back of the net to give MHC a 5-4 lead. Eskridge picked up the assits.

Petit scored on an unassisted tally with 13 seconds remaining as the Redhawks applied pressure late. That set the stage for Garrett's goal in the closing seconds.

Mars Hill will host Lenoir-Rhyne this Saturday, Feb. 23 at 2:00 p.m. in Meares Stadium.