Mars Hill downs Newberry in final game of 2018

NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Mars Hill (2-11, 1-7 SAC) men's lacrosse team won their first South Atlantic Conference game of the year in the 2018 season finale against Newberry (4-11, 0-8 SAC), 10-9, on Saturday afternoon.

Tied at four entering halftime, the Lions would go on to outscore the Wolves 6-5 in the final 30 minutes to snap their nine-game losing streak.

In the third quarter, Connor Fernandes scored his second goal of the game at the 7:54 mark. With under three minutes to go in the frame, Josh Bryers netted his first of the contest.

Newberry would attack strongly in the final stanza, scoring five goals. Jeremy Ross potted three of the Wolves' tallies, including a man-advantage goal with 2:49 left in the game. The Wolves struck twice in 21 seconds with goals from Stone Boone and Ross to pull within one with 56 seconds remaining in the contest, but were unable to tie the game.

Bryers had two points in the final frame with a goal and an assist. Parker Beaudry, Spencer Andrews and Jake Trafton each scored in the fourth quarter.

Each team scored twice in the first and second quarters of the game. Just 1:08 into the game, Beaudry put the Lions up 1-0, but was answered back a minute later by Belton Bryan's tying marker. Andrews regained the Mars Hill lead with 5:03, scoring a man-down goal. With 3:16 left in the opening quarter, Ross netted his first of the game.

Newberry took their first lead of the game at the 5:46 mark of the second with Matt Cromie's goal. The teams combined for three goals in the final 2:53 of the half. Fernandes' first goal of the day tied the game at three, but 22 seconds later, Bryan's first of the contest regained the one-goal lead for the Wolves. Alex Lipsky's goal with 28 seconds left in the half tied the game at four apiece.

Dima Ferreira led the Lions with three assists on the afternoon. Fernandes, Beaudry, Bryers and Andrews each had two goals. Ross led all players with four goals. Bryan (2g, 1a), Cromie (2g, 1a) and Boone (1g, 2a) each had three points.

Ryan Kearney made 14 saves in the win. Erick Szurley stopped eight shots in the loss.