Lions downed by Colorado Mesa

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill men's lacrosse team was defeated 17-9 by visiting Colorado Mesa on Thursday evening at the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium. Parker Beaudry had a hat-trick in the contest.

Just nine seconds into the game, the Mavericks' Michael Marino shot high over the shoulder of Ryan Kearney for the first goal of the game. Jake Trafton would knot the game up with 11:04 remaining in the first quarter for his second goal of the season. Five minutes later, the Lions would take their only lead of the day with Zac Carrigan's first on the year. With 6:01 left in the first stanza, Colorado Mesa reeled off five straight goals to enter the second quarter up 6-2. Goals by Brian Buckner, Reece Callies, Joe Wulforst IV and two from Johnny Cary provided the four goal advantage.

The second quarter saw a much more defensive battle as each team only scored twice. Beaudry, on the man-advantage at the 4:32 mark of the quarter, cut the Mavericks' lead in half with his third goal of the season. Dima Ferreira picked up his sixth assist of the year. Jack Griffin scored the first of his three goals on the day with 8:21 remaining in the half. Goals from Josh Bryers at 10:51 and Brandon Wilson at 11:34 in the second closed out the scoring of the first half. 

Mars Hill trailed Colorado Mesa 8-4 entering the second half. Kearney made 16 saves in the first 30 minutes of play. The Mavericks dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 12-of-14 draws.

Griffin struck twice in the third to give him a hat-trick and six goals on the year. Opening the scoring Colorado Mesa, Griffin's second goal of the day was the catalyst for a three-goal streak that saw the Mavericks balloon the lead to 11-4. Wilson added his fifth of the year in between the Griffin tallies. Beaudry answered with his second on the day and with the man-advantage for the lone goal in the frame.

The Lions were edged in the fourth, 5-4, by Colorado Mesa. Once again opening the quarter on a three-goal streak, the Mavericks led by 10 with 12:39 left in the contest. Goals from Marino, Scott Foster and Kyle O'Brien put Colorado Mesa up 15-5 late in the game. Mars Hill's Chase Pretti-Pearsall scored his first of the season followed by Beaudry who netted his third of the day and fifth on the year to bring the Mavericks' lead down to 15-7 with 9:11 left in the game. In the final three minutes of the game, the teams each added two goals to the scoreboard. Ferriera scored both Lions' goals in that span for his third and fourth on the season.

Colorado Mesa continued their dominance in the faceoff circle, winning 24-of-29 faceoffs, including several that led directly to goals. The Mavericks attempted 54 shots on the afternoon to the Lions' 30.

Kearney made 19 saves in the loss while Christian Cherry picked up his first victory of the season, making six saves and allowing seven goals.

Mars Hill returns to action on Saturday, February 24 versus Shorter on the road. Faceoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.