ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Mar. 7) – In a tight contest under the lights, the University of Mount Olive men's lacrosse program fell by a 14-11 margin against Flagler in non-conference action on Tuesday night in non-conference play.

With the loss, the Trojans drop to 1-5 this season after facing three straight ranked opponents. Meanwhile, the Saints improve to 2-5 after returning a preseason all-conference player from the Peach Belt Conference (PBC).

On a man-up opportunity, UMO gained the first goal of the contest from graduate student Blake Tallon receiving a pass from teammate Brayden Hickey, 1-0. In response, Flagler leveled the match with a goal at the 3:17-mark, 1-1. Off a pass by senior Chaz Goodman, sophomore Davin Ikert scored his first goal of the season, 2-1. With 42 seconds left, Flagler closed the first quarter with a goal to tie the game at 2-2. In the second quarter, the Saints scored back-to-back goals leading the Trojans by two, 4-2. With goals by senior Chapman Parker and Goodman, the game was knotted, 4-4. Closing the first half, both teams scored a goal each, including one by freshman Benjamin Vanderkley, his first of the season, 5-5.

Flagler opened the second half by netting two goals within 50 seconds of each other, 7-5. As both teams worked effortlessly, the Saints and the Trojans went back and forth between goals. With goals from Hickey (1), Goodman (2), and a goal by senior Aidan Lalonde, the quarter ended with Flagler leading by one, 10-9. Tying the match and scoring his fourth goal of the game, Goodman put one past the keeper in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, 10-10. With four unanswered goals, Flagler was in the lead 14-10. With less than three minutes left, UMO scored on a goal by senior Chance Urban, but unfortunately, the Saints were able to seal their 14-11 victory.

Goodman finished the game with a career-high of four goals. He also collected two assists and two ground balls. Graduate student Mike Marto went 20-29 on the faceoff. Both Marto and sophomore Brady Laurence collected seven ground balls in the contest.  

The Trojans are idle for over a week before taking on Seton Hill at the Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex on Saturday, March 18, at 11 a.m.