Lions Shut Out Lees-McRae

MARS HILL, N.C.- The Mars Hill lacrosse team scored nine first quarter goals en route to a 25-0 shutout victory over Lees-McRae at Meares Stadium and Ammons Family Athletic Center on Wednesday afternoon. Mars Hill improves to 9-6 overall while Lees-McRae drops to 2-13.

Jimmy McBride led the Lions with six goals, followed by Saxon Weil and Ryan Sage with five goals each and Dima Ferriera with four goals. Anthony Malcom, A.J. Seip, Brian Pieklik, Nathan Stewart and Kevin Sherry each scored one goal. Ferriera led the Lions with five assists, with Malcom and Weil each recording three helpers. The 25 goal output is the highest for Mars Hill since scoring 25 goals against Lenoir-Rhyne in a 25-6 victory on Feb. 26, 2011. Additionally, the Lions shut out their first opponent since blanking Lees-McRae in Meares Stadium as part of a 19-0 victory on February 9, 2013.

McBride got the scoring started at the 13:34 mark of the first quarter, followed by Pieklik at 12:59 for a 2-0 lead. McBride and Sage scored two goals each to give MHU a 6-0 lead at the 4:16 mark of the opening quarter for a 9-0 advantage. Ferriera found the back of the net twice before Weil scored with two seconds remaining in the opening stanza. McBride tallied two goals in the second quarter as Weil, Ferriera, Sherry and Seip scored to give MHU a 15-0 lead at halftime.

Mars Hill added five goals in the third quarter, with Sage cashing in on the Lions' lone man-up opportunity 16 seconds into the fourth quarter as part of a five goal frame.

Jack Grinewich made three saves in the opening half, while Ryan Kearney made six saves in the final 30 minutes. Jordan Lombardo made three saves for the visitors. The Lions outshot the Bobcats 40-18 and held a 33-21 advantage in ground balls. Stewart led Mars Hill with six ground balls, followed by Tanner Leach with five.

Mars Hill will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday against Adams State at 2 p.m.