FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. (March 25) – Playing its first conference game of the season, the University of Mount Olive men's lacrosse team secured a 14-8 road win over Emmanuel on Saturday afternoon in Conference Carolinas play.

With the win, the Trojans improve to 3-5 overall while opening 1-0 in league play. In the series, Mount Olive has won all nine meetings dating back to 2015. Meanwhile, the Lions drop to 1-9 overall and 0-2 in conference play. 

In the first quarter, Mount Olive netted the opening five goals of the contest. The first set of unassisted goals by freshman Benjamin Vanderkley and junior Chapman Parker put the Trojans up 2-0. Soon after, senior Chaz Goodman passed the ball to teammate Chance Urban and scored, 3-0. At the 4:57-mark of the game, senior Aidan Lalonde received a pass off Vanderkley, bringing the score 4-0. Later, senior Samuel Skousen put one past the keeper, extending the lead by five, 5-0. Closing the first quarter, Emmanuel scored back-to-back goals, 5-2. In the second quarter, UMO worked hard both defensively and offensively, and only let the Lions score one goal in the entire quarter. Led by Vanderkley, Urban, and Goodman, the Trojans were up 8-2. With another goal by the Lions, Emmanuel scored their third goal of the game, 8-3. Closing the first half, Mount Olive scored two unassisted goals by junior Elijah Cobb and Lalonde, 10-3. 

At the start of the second half, Skousen opened the quarter with a goal from a pass by Vanderkley, 11-3. At the 11:51-mark, EC was able to put one past the keeper, 12-4. In response, graduate student Blake Tallon scored at the 8:39-mark, 12-4. Closing the third quarter, the Lions scored two straight goals, cutting the deficit in half, 12-6. Although Emmanuel was able to score in the last frame, Mount Olive was able to secure the win. With two more goals by senior Travis Pullan and junior Matthew Ateshian, the Trojans won 14-8. 

Lalonde and Vanderkey both finished with two goals and two assists. Sophomore Brady Laurance picked up a career high 11 ground balls in a game. 

Goalkeeper Jacob Brown had two saves in 39:56 minutes in the game. Freshman Kurtis Lensing made his debut playing 20:04 minutes and collecting six saves. 

The Trojans face conference rival Barton at the Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex on Wednesday, March 29 at 4 p.m.