Lacrosse Wins at Wingate

Wingate, N.C. - Mars Hill College scored the first four goals of the game and never looked back, taking a 15-7 NCAA Division II men's lacrosse victory over Wingate University Saturday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. Mars Hill's Jimmy McBride had four goals and one assist for the Lions (8-2 overall). Ryan Vogrig had two goals and one assist for the host Bulldogs (2-11 overall).

Anthony Malcolm supported McBride's efforts with two goals and a team-high three assists. The Lions won 20-of-26 face-offs and outshot the Bulldogs 45-28. Wingate's Garrett Kendall had two goals for the hosts, while Troy Press topped the team charts with his two assists.

Four different Lions scored a goal to open the game. Malcolm had assists on two of the scores, while McBride assisted on another tally. Zach Tomkinson finished the flurry (from a Malcolm assist) to make the score 4-0 Lions with 4:41 remaining in the opening frame.

Wingate scored three of the next four goals to cut the deficit to 5-3. Chase Clifton scored a man-up goal on an assist from Press to get the Bulldogs on the board (3:14). Taylor Womble and Kendall sandwiched individual goals around a Malcolm goal to complete the first quarter scoring.

Mars Hill outscored Wingate 4-2 in the second stanza, taking a 9-5 advantage to the halftime locker room. McBride started the second quarter scoring for the visitors (14:31). Kendall and Vogrig scored Bulldog goals in the second frame. Vogrig's unassisted goal (3:08) made the score 8-5 Mars Hill. Jamie Raezer completed the first half scoring for the visitors.

The third quarter was a draw, as both teams scored twice each. Wingate struck first, as Vogrig (8:26) and senior midfield Jackson Bunn (Wilmington, N.C.) helped the Bulldogs cut the deficit to 9-7 with back-to-back goals. Bunn's tally at the 8:26 mark would end Wingate's scoring, as Mars Hill finished the game on a 6-0 run.

McBride scored three of his four goals in the final 15:07 of the contest. He closed the third quarter with an unassisted goal and added two tallies in the fourth frame. C.J. Shane scored the game's final goal with 2:40 remaining.

Ryan Herrmann won 14-of-17 face-offs for the visitors. Herrmann collected a game-high 13 ground balls. Lion goalkeeper Patrick McMahon earned his eighth victory of the season. In 57-plus minutes, McMahon allowed seven goals and recorded 13 saves. Jesse Mimken played the final 2:40 between the pipes.

Wingate's Patrick Cooney played 60 minutes. He surrendered 15 goals and notched 13 saves. Cooney picked up four ground balls.

Wingate returns to Deep South Conference Saturday, April 6, visiting Catawba College for a 7 p.m. league game. Mars Hill hosts Wheeling Jesuit (W.Va.) the same day. First face-off is slated for 1 p.m.