Lions down Chowan in non-conference thriller

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill men's lacrosse team (3-6) defeated Chowan (1-9) by a score of 14-13 in non-conference play Tuesday afternoon inside the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium.

Mars Hill held an 11-9 lead entering the final stanza, but the Hawks reeled off the first three goals of the fourth to pull ahead 12-11 with 4:55 played.  Midway through the fourth, Connor Fernandes's second goal of the game tied the game up and less than four minutes later, Zac Carrigan's hat-trick marker proved to be the game-winner.  Fernandes added a goal 1:20 after Carrigan for his respective hat-trick.

The Hawks scored the first two goals in every quarter of the contest and held the 2-0 lead after 4:46 played in the first.  Trading goals to maintain the two-goal advantage, Chowan gave up the next five goals with Spencer  Andrews netting two for the Lions.  Jake Trafton assisted on three of the goals.

In the lowest scoring frame of the contest, Chowan outscored Mars Hill 2-1, but entered the half down 7-6 as Trafton netted his lone goal of the game with 1:28 remaining in the half.

After giving up the lead 2:17 into the third, the Lions roared back with three goals of their own to go up by two with 8:11 left in the third stanza.  Tremain Hill recorded a goal and an assist in the frame.  

Trafton led all players with seven points (1g, 6a).  The trio of Fernandes, Carrigan and Andrews each netted hat-tricks.  Patrick Egan led the Hawks with seven points (5g, 2a) on the day.  Noah Holloway had four assists in the contest.

Joel Borman made nine saves for his third win of the season while Adam Brown was credited with the loss, giving up nine goals in 50:03 of play.

The Lions return to action on Saturday, March 30th when they host Catawba in South Atlantic Conference play.  The contest is slated for a 12 p.m. start.