February 2, 2024

Lions open season on road versus Crusaders

The Mars Hill men's lacrosse team (0-1) opened their 2024 campaign on the road versus Belmont Abbey (1-0), falling by a score of 12-7 Friday evening.

Mars Hill

0-1

Belmont Abbey

1-0

Final

Mars Hill (0-1)

Belmont Abbey (1-0)

BELMONT, N.C. - The Mars Hill men's lacrosse team (0-1) opened their 2024 campaign on the road versus Belmont Abbey (1-0), falling by a score of 12-7 Friday evening.

The Crusaders led 5-1 after the first quarter of action. Jeremy Mahoney led all players with two points with a goal and an assist. Brandon Woodward scored the Lions first goal of the season.

Mahoney struck twice for Belmont Abbey in the second as they outscored the Lions 3-2. Both Lions markers, one from Woodward and the other from George Yanssens, came on the man-advantage.

The third quarter saw both teams record just one goal aside with Josh McCallion scoring the Lions' tally.

In the final 15 minutes of play, the teams each scored three goals apiece. Yanssens netted his second man-up goal of the contest while AJ Howland and Cole Ross each scored for the Lions.

Woodward and Yanssens led Mars Hill with two goals apiece while Ross posted a team-high two assists. Woodward also led the team with four groundball pickups while Andrew Dafoe led the defensive effort with two caused turnovers.

Angus Snow made eight saves for the win while Steven Smith made 19 saves in the season opener.

The Lions return to the field on Saturday, February 10 when they host Virginia State in the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium. First faceoff is set for 1 p.m.