Lacrosse Defeats Coker, 16-10

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Lions defeated Coker 16-10 in South Atlantic Conference lacrosse action Saturday night in the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium. The Lions improved to 1-8 overall and 1-4 in the league. The Cobras fell to 3-8 on the season, 2-3 in the SAC.

Dima Ferriera and A.J. Seip led the Lions with four goals apiece. Ferriera added two assists in the victory. Nathan Stewart recorded three goals and nine ground balls. Austin Bouchard scored three goals and notched one assist in the contest. Chase Pretti-Pearsal tallied two goals while Josh Bryers supplied the Lions' offense with three assists. Ryan Kearney played all 60 minutes in goal for Mars Hill and made seven saves.

Shane Wilson led Coker with four goals while Mike Martiello recorded the same number of assists to pace the Cobras offensively. Adam Messel played the first 30 minutes in goal for Coker and made one save. Anthony Malik played the final 30 minutes in the net for the Cobras and made three saves.

Mars Hill outshot the Cobras 26-25 in the victory with the ground ball battle even at 30 each. MHU won 19-31 face-offs. Mars Hill was 2-2 on extra-man opportunities while Coker was 2-6.

The Lions outscored Coker 4-2 in the first quarter before the Cobras trimmed Mars Hill's lead to 7-6 at halftime by outscoring the Lions 4-3 in the second period. Dima Ferriera scored three first half goals while A.J. Seip added two first half scores. Coker outshot MHU 15-10 in the first two quarters and were 1-3 on extra-man opportunities in the first half. Mars Hill won the first half ground ball battle, 16-13 and edged the Cobras 8-7 in first half face-offs.

The Lions outscored Coker 4-2 in the third stanza led by two goals from Stewart. Mars Hill sealed the win in the fourth quarter outscoring the Cobras 5-2. Pretti-Pearsal recorded two goals in the run to help make the final tally 16-10 in favor of the hosts.

Mars Hill will host SAC foe Brevard on April 6. Game time is set for 4 p.m.