Lacrosses' Late Comeback Falls Short

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Lions lost to Lenoir-Rhyne 10-9 in South Atlantic Conference lacrosse action Saturday afternoon at the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium. Mars Hill fell to 4-6 overall and 4-3 in the league. The Bears improved to 7-5 on the season and 5-1 in the SAC.

Ryan Sage and Hunter Maggs led MHU with three goals apiece. Sage added an assist while Jimmy McBride and Saxon Weil recorded a goal and an assist each. Jack Grinewich played all 60 minutes in goal for the Lions and made 11 saves.

Ethan Tingler led the Bears with three goals followed by Mike Hanlon with two goals and an assist. Alex Squires played the first half in goal for the Bears and made five saves. Ryan Crompton played the final 30 minutes in the net for L-R and made six saves.

L-R outshot the Lions, 36-27 and won the ground ball battle, 30-27. Mars Hill won 15-23 face-offs and were 2-4 in extra-man opportunities. The Bears were 0-3 on man-up chances.

The Bears jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first quarter before Franke Riffe put the Lions on the board with 3:08 left in the first period. MHU won the second frame 3-1 to send the teams into the locker room at the intermission with the Lions trailing 5-4.

The Bears shut the Lions out in the third quarter scoring three unanswered goals to lead 8-4 heading into the last quarter of play. Mars Hill fought hard in the end out scoring L-R 5-2 in the fourth stanza including scoring three consecutive goals at the end of the game. After trailing 10-6 with just 2:44 left in regulation, Weil scored at the 2:03 mark, Maggs found the back of the net at the 1:29 mark and then Sage scored with 29 ticks left in the contest. Unfortunately, the Bears won the ensuing face-off and ran out the clock to leave Meares Stadium with the one-point victory.

Mars Hill will play at SAC rival Wingate on Saturday, April 11. The game is set to begin at 4 p.m.