Lions rally late, down Shorter on road

ROME, Ga. - The Mars Hill men's lacrosse team (2-1) defeated Shorter (1-1) by a score of 11-9 Saturday night on the road in non-conference play.

Tied at seven entering the final 15 minutes of play, the Lions scored the first three goals in 1:30 of action.  Zac Carrigan recorded his hat-trick marker to put Mars Hill up by one followed by goals from George Yanssens and Braden Hoskyn.  Trey Edge scored two of the next three goals, but Carrigan's fourth with 1:27 remaining was an insurance marker to secure the Lions' second win of the season.

Brandon Beland opened the scoring with 4:29 elapsed in the first, the lone tally of the frame.  He added his second just over two minutes into the second.  Edge and Jaden Sealey scored for the Hawks to knot the game at two with 11:10 remaining in the half.

The teams traded goals from the 8:08 mark of the second and all through the third quarter, accumulating five lead changes and six ties.  Carrigan, Joey Baumgardt, and Devin Napol scored the Lions' goals.

Carrigan netted four goals followed by Beland's three.  Frankie Villeneuve won 13-of-14 faceoffs and collected a game-high eight ground balls.  Edge led all players with five goals and two assists.

Steven Smith made 10 saves for his second win of the season.  Huck McCollum made 24 saves in a losing effort.

The Lions return home on Wednesday, February 24 and host the Tusculum Pioneers.  Faceoff is set for 7 p.m.