Lions fall to Young Harris

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. - The Mars Hill men's lacrosse team lost 12-3 to Young Harris on the road Saturday evening. Dima Ferreira had a goal and an assist in the contest.

Spencer Andrews opened the scoring for the Lions, potting the first goal of the game off of an assist from Jake Trafton with 2:25 elapsed in the first frame. Young Harris answered with two goals in 1:16 to take a 2-1 edge before Ferreira, with 8:30 remaining in the first quarter, tied the game at two. With 6:41 left in the opening stanza, Hayes Johnson scored his second of the game and started a 10-0 run for the Mountain Lions.

Garrett Blake and Jimmy Martelli each scored two goals in the second quarter. Bevan Pate added a goal and an assist in the frame to give Young Harris an 8-2 lead heading into halftime. Pate, Johnson, Martelli and Bruce Silk each had two points in the half. Matty Ledon had three (1g, 2a) to lead all players.

The lead grew to 10 as Young Harris netted four more goals in the third quarter. Silk scored with the man advantage. Pate picked up another goal and assist in the quarter. Blake completed his hat-trick and Chandler Bradley got in on the action with 1:29 left in the frame.

Mars Hill's Tremain Hill scored the lone goal of the fourth quarter for his second of the season.

Pate led all players with four points (2g, 2a) followed by Blake (3g), Silk (1g, 2a) and Ledon's (1g, 2a) three point efforts.

Young Harris dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 17-of-18 draws and outshot the Lions 52-18. Mars Hill stopped 6-of-7 Mountain Lions' man advantage opportunities.

Sean Dever made 11 saves for the win. Ryan Kearney stopped 19 shots in the losing effort.

The Lions return to action on Saturday, March 10 when they open up South Atlantic Conference play on the road against Tusculum. The game is slated for a 3 p.m. start time.