Seniors Lead Lacrosse to Victory over Tusculum

MARS HILL, N.C.- Seniors Ryan Sage, Anthony Malcom and Jimmy McBride combined to score 12 of Mars Hill's 19 goals in a 19-6 victory over Tusculum at Meares Stadium and Ammons Family Athletic Center on Thursday afternoon. Mars Hill improves to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in South Atlantic Conference play while Tusculum drops to 1-5 and 0-3.

Sage scored a game-high five goals, with Malcom netting four goals and three from McBride. Dima Ferriera scored three goals, with two from Saxon Weil and one each from A.J. Seip and Alex Lipsky. Malcom and McBride each had three assists.

Ben Boyd and Steven Raimoni each scored two goals to lead Tusculum.

Malcom got the Lions on the board just under two minutes into the contest before consecutive goals gave Tusculum a 3-2 lead at the 10:09 mark. Weil and Sage would each score to give the Lions a 3-2 lead after the first quarter.

Following a Jake Smith goal that tied the game 18 seconds into the second quarter, the Lions tallied three goals for a 6-3 lead with 6:43 to go in the opening half. Mars Hill led 8-4 heading into halftime.

Raimondi and Boyd brought the Pioneers to within two, 8-6, with 12:27 to play in the third quarter. Mars Hill responded with two goals in 49 seconds from Ferriera and Sage to push the lead back to four (10-6). Mars Hill led 12-6 at the end of the third quarter and scored seven goals in the fourth while shutting out Tusculum to wrap up the victory.

In his first career start in goal, Ryan Kearney faced 19 shots and made 13 saves. Kevin Haggerty made 10 saves on 29 shots for the Pioneers.

Mars Hill returns to action on Wednesday, making the trip to Brevard for a 4 p.m. faceoff.