Salisbury, N.C. – No. 10 University of Mount Olive earned a 16-10 win in the 2017 season-opener over Catawba College in NCAA DII men's lacrosse action on Saturday afternoon in Salisbury, N.C.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Mount Olive 16, Catawba 10
Records: Mount Olive (1-0, 0-0 CC), Catawba (1-2, 0-0 SAC)
Location: Salisbury, N.C.

How It Happened
Play-by-Play

FIRST QUARTER

• Mount Olive surrendered the first goal of the match with 11:19 on the clock as Cole Fanzo from Catawba found the back of the net.
• Gunner Parson scored the first Mount Olive goal of the season with 6:23 left in the quarter to knot the game at one.
• The Indians then scored two goals to take a 3-1 lead with 2:12.
• UMO did not allow Catawba to hold onto the momentum as the Trojans put in three straight goals to end the quarter and take a 4-3 lead.

SECOND QUARTER

• Catawba again took the first goal of the quarter as Chase Scott scored 1:11 into the quarter to tie the game again at four.
• Mount Olive went on to regain the lead with goals from Parson (8:40) and Brett Kingston (8:27).
• The Indians fought back with a goal to bring the deficit down to 6-5, but UMO pushed home two more goals to take an 8-5 lead into halftime.

THIRD QUARTER

• For the first time in the match, Mount Olive scored the first goal of the quarter as Jesse Mitchell scored on a man-up opportunity with 7:52 left.
• The Trojans held onto an 11-7 lead heading into the final quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Austin Whitlow led the charge for the Trojans in the final frame securing a hat trick with 3:24 left in the game.
• UMO and Catawba exchanged goals in the final two minutes as Mount Olive took the 16-10 victory. 

KEY STATS

• Brett Kingston, Austin Whitlow, and Gunner Parson all picked up three goals each to lead the Mount Olive offense.
• Defensively, Cole Groebner led the way with three caused turnovers and six groundballs. 
• Junior Will Urban (1-0) earned his first victory in goal this season, as he recorded nine saves on 18 shots on goal.
• The Trojans narrowly outshot Catawba, 39-35 in the win.
• UMO also held a 15-14 advantage in face-offs for the match.

UP NEXT
Mount Olive will come home to the Ray McDonald, Sr. Track and Field/Lacrosse Complex for its home-opener on Wednesday, February 22 at 3 p.m. against Coker College.