Strong second quarter lifts Mars Hill to 17-10 SAC win at Wingate

WINGATE, N.C. - Mars Hill University's Anthony Malcolm had four goals and two assists, leading the Lions to a 17-10 South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse victory over Wingate University at the Irwin Belk Track Complex turf field Saturday. Mars Hill is 5-6 overall and 5-3 in the SAC. Wingate is 6-9 overall and 4-4 in the SAC.

Six student-athletes had multiple goals for the Lions. Hunter Maggs had three goals, while Ryan Sage had two goals and two assists. Sage was one of four Lions with two goals each.

Wingate's Austin Murphy had three goals and one assist for the hosts. Zak Goings had two goals, while Ryan Vogrig had one goal and a team-best two assists.

Mars Hill outscored Wingate 8-1 in the second quarter, turning a 4-4 tie into a 12-5 halftime advantage. Saxon Weil and Wingate's Goings traded goals to start the second stanza to make the score 5-5. The Lions scored the last seven goals of the second quarter and the first goal of the third quarter to take a 13-5 lead.

Maggs ended the flurry with an unassisted goal at the 13:23 mark of the third frame, giving the visitors an eight-goal advantage. Maggs tallied all three of his Saturday goals in the 8-0 run, while Malcolm had two tallies in the same time frame. Wingate would get no closer than six goals down the stretch.

Wingate outshot Mars Hill 40-31, while the Lions held a slim 41-35 edge in ground balls. The Bulldogs had eight extra-man opportunities, but could score on only one power play. Mars Hill was scoreless in three EMO chances.

Lion goalie Jack Grinewich had 20 saves Saturday. He played 60 minutes, allowing 10 goals and facing 40 shots. Bulldog goalie Jacob Ormerod played 56-plus minutes. He allowed 15 goals and recorded nine saves. Michael Connor played three minutes, giving up two goals.