MOUNT OLIVE (Feb. 18) – Facing their first-ranked opponent of the year, the Trojans dropped a 19-10 contest against No. 10 Wingate in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon.
With the loss, the University of Mount Olive's men's lacrosse program drops to 1-2 this season. Meanwhile, Wingate improves to 2-1 after featuring the preseason National Player of the Year by USA Lacrosse Magazine and five All-South Atlantic Conference (SAC) selections following a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2022.
Mount Olive netted the opening five goals of the contest from graduate student
Mike Marto, junior
Chapman Parker, junior
Aidan Lalonde, and a pair from senior
Chaz Goodman, 5-0. Wingate brought the game to a one-score difference with four consecutive goals, 5-4. Closing the first quarter, senior
Blake Tallon put one past the keeper off a pass from Parker, 6-4. The Bulldogs were the first to score in the second quarter at the 13:42 mark, 6-5. In response, graduate student
Braydon Hickey scored his second goal of the year from a pass by Goodman, 7-5. After trailing a majority of the first half, Wingate scored back-to-back goals to tie the game, 7-7. On a man-up opportunity, Lalonde put one past the keeper to regain an 8-7 advantage for UMO. With 33 seconds left, the Bulldogs closed the first half with a goal to tie the match, 8-8.
After trailing behind Mount Olive in the first half, Wingate took the lead as they scored six unanswered goals in the third quarter, 14-8. Finishing the third quarter, Goodman completed the hat trick at the 2:32 mark of the match, 14-9. Scoring the first goal of the fourth quarter, Parker netted UMO's last goal of the match. The Bulldogs pulled away in the final nine minutes with five goals to seal the win, 19-10.
Goodman led the team with three goals, two assists, one ground ball, and a caused turnover. Sophomore
Brady Laurance finished with a game-high nine ground balls.
Senior
Mike Marto led the match with 22-of-32 faceoffs.
The Trojans return to action on Thursday, Feb. 23, when they face Newberry in non-conference play on the road at 5 p.m.
