GAFFNEY, S.C. – Leading 1-0 after one quarter of play, the nationally second-ranked Limestone College men's lacrosse team exploded for an 11-goal outburst in the second period to post a convincing 24-7 decision over No. 18 Catawba College in nonconference action on Friday, April 5 at Saints Field.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 2 Limestone 24, No. 18 Catawba 7
Records: No. 2 Limestone (12-0), No. 18 Catawba (8-3)
Location: Saints Field
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Junior attack Larson Sundown (Basom, N.Y.) tallied four goals and two assists
• Senior midfielder Matt Hommel (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) also registered four goals and two assists
• Junior midfielder Clark Walter (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) added three goals
• Junior attack Tyler Papa (Manlius, N.Y.) chipped in two goals and dished out four assists
• Senior attack Jeremy Burns (Fort Mitchell, Ky.) finished with a pair of scores
• Senior midfielder Coltin Moseman (Malta, N.Y.) posted a goal and an assist
• Graduate attack Brian Huyghue (Halifax, Nova Scotia) also had a goal and an assist
• Junior specialist Christopher Parrott (Rising Sun, Md.) went a perfect 14-of-14 in faceoff attempts
• Junior Dakota Kirsch-Downs (Odenton, Md.) won 10 faceoff attempts to go with 10 groundballs
• Senior keeper Danny Forren (Trumbull, Conn.) picked up 12 saves in the win

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Defense was the main story line over the first 15 minutes of play as the two offenses combined for a total of 16 turnovers in the opening quarter. Limestone would tally the only goal of the period, turning defense into offense as Sundown converted a caused turnover into an assist on the go-ahead score by Huyghue.
 
Second Quarter
 
The Saints found their groove in the second period, scoring twice over the first six minutes of the frame on goals by junior Jake Crotser (Oneonta, N.Y.) and Hommel. Catawba closed the margin to 3-1 with 9:20 remaining, but the Blue and Gold ran off seven straight goals over the next five minutes to pull away.
 
Walter and Sundown both tallied a pair of goals during the outburst before Papa capped the run with a man-up goal to stake Limestone to a 10-1 lead. The Indians answered with back-to-back scores, but Sundown and Hommel both split the frame down the stretch to give the Saints a 12-3 edge at the half.
 
Third Quarter
 
Catawba scored an unassisted goal early in the third, but the Blue and Gold countered with three unanswered tallies to push the margin to 15-4 with 6:51 remaining in the period. Junior long stick midfielder Jordan Stouros (Ottawa, Ontario) highlighted the spurt, scoring off an assist from Forren.
 
The Indians temporarily halted the momentum with a goal midway through the period, but Kirsch-Downs scored seven ticks later off the ensuing faceoff as Limestone built up a commanding 18-5 lead at the end of the third. Walter and Hommel both scored on the same extra-man opportunity during that stretch.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Senior midfield Patrick Hanley (Syracuse, N.Y.) found the back of the net off an assist by freshman Nelson Logan (Basom, N.Y.) early in the fourth before Sundown finished off a feed from Papa a few seconds later to put the game well out of reach, 20-5, with 14:06 remaining in regulation.
 
Burns then tallied his 18^th goal of the season before senior Dylan Brown (Hagerstown, Md.) assisted on scores by freshmen Trent Kellner (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) and Pierce Holohan (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) as Limestone put the finishing touches on the 24-7 nonconference decision.  
 
TURNING POINT
 
Following a back-and-forth opening quarter with just one goal scored between the two teams, Limestone surged in the second period with 11 scores in the frame. The Saints then followed up with six goals in each of the final two quarters as the Blue and Gold pulled away for the 24-7 win.  
 
NOTABLES
 

• Limestone improves to a perfect 26-0 all-time against Catawba
• The Saints have scored 20 or more goals in three straight games
• The nation's second-ranked offense has scored 20 or more in a game five times this season
• Defensively, Limestone has held opponents under 10 goals a game nine times
• Head Coach J.B. Clarke recorded his 299^th career win over a distinguished 20-year career

 
UP NEXT
 
Limestone will host archrival Belmont Abbey College in a key conference and regional clash on Wednesday, April 7 at Saints Field. The national top-10 matchup that will most likely determine the conference regular season championship is set to start at 7 p.m.