#12 Anderson edges Men’s Lacrosse

Anderson, S.C. —- The Catawba College men's lacrosse team cut their deficit down to two goals with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, but 12th-ranked Anderson held on for the 12-8 victory in South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse action. The Trojans improve to 10-1 overall and 4-0 in the SAC, while the Catawba Indians drop to 1-7 on the season and 1-3 in league play.

Bakari Neely led Catawba offensively with a team-high three goals. Nick DiBitetto won 11 of 19 face-offs and recorded five ground balls. James Crighton made 14 saves in goal for the Catawba Indians. Garrett Hawkins led the Trojans with three goals and two assists.

AU struck first just over a minute and a half into the first quarter, but Neely responded with a score at the 12:13 mark to tie the game at 1. Anderson scored back-to-back goals to take a 3-1 lead midway through the quarter, but Neely and Joey Lindner answered with two goals in less than two and a half minutes as the teams entered the second quarter tied at 3.

Catawba's Garrett Simi made it three goals in a row for the visitors, taking a 5-4 lead at the 13:46 mark. The Trojans scored two consecutive goals to retake the lead, but Neely's third goal of the half tied the game at 5. AU's Matthew Rodgers scored a goal in the final minutes, as the Trojans took a 6-5 lead heading into the halftime break.

Anderson scored the only three goals of the third quarter, taking a 9-5 lead after 45 minutes of game action. Catawba scored the opening two goals of the fourth quarter, as Yasir Stroud and Frank Cetrone scored back-to-back to cut Catawba's deficit to 9-7. The Trojans responded with three straight goals in a five-minute span to extend their lead to five goals. Keegan Maxwell found the back of the net with 90 seconds left, but Anderson held off Catawba down the stretch for the win.

Catawba returns to Shuford Stadium on Wednesday, hosting Coker at 7 p.m.