WILSON, N.C. (April 28) – Senior Chapman Parker delivered the game-winning goal in overtime on Sunday afternoon, as the Trojans scored three unanswered goals to secure a 12-11 victory over Belmont Abbey and claimed their first-ever Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship while competing at Truist Stadium.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive men's lacrosse team closed out the 2024 season with 10-straight wins and posted a 12-3 overall record behind an undefeated run through conference play and the tournament. In their sixth trip to the title game, the Trojans captured their first-ever conference championship under the leadership of second-year head coach Dylan Price. Meanwhile, Belmont Abbey finished the season with a 10-7 record while posting a 6-1 mark in the league play.
Senior Chaz Goodman was named the tournament MVP following a team-high four points in the championship game. Additionally, sophomore Kurtis Lensing, senior Zachary Taylor, and Parker garnered all-tournament honors for Mount Olive.
Belmont Abbey grabbed the early advantage with the opening goal at the 13:15 mark of the first quarter. Senior Samuel Skousen countered with a goal off an assist by graduate student Chance Urban to tie the contest at 1-1. In just 14 seconds, the Crusaders regained a 2-1 edge before Parker and Urban netted back-to-back goals to take a 3-2 lead. Belmont Abbey tied the game at 3-3 with 34 seconds left in the first quarter in a highly competitive contest. After a seven-plus minute scoreless drought in the second, the Trojans reclaimed the lead with a goal by senior Aidan Lalonde before BAC once again tied the contest at the 5:39 mark, 4-4. The Trojans produced an offensive surge in the closing minutes, as senior Matthew Ateshian scored consecutive goals while Parker netted his second goal of the game, 7-4. The Crusaders registered the final goal of the half at the 1:14 mark, as UMO held a 7-5 edge at the break.
In a low-scoring third quarter, Lalonde set a new single-season record with 48 goals after scoring at the 11:03 mark, but Belmont Abbey recorded back-to-back goals to head into the final 15 minutes trailing by an 8-7 margin. Skousen built the lead to 9-7 in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter before the Crusaders tallied four straight goals to take an 11-9 advantage with 3:55 left. Goodman scored quickly off a caused turnover by Taylor and sophomore Hudson Karasek tied the game with 44 seconds left to head to overtime, 11-11.
In overtime, Taylor caused a critical turnover in the opening seconds before Chapman rattled the back of the cage off an assist by Urban to earn the overtime win, 12-11.
Lensing tallied double-digit saves with 10 in the win while facing 41 shots. Defensively, Taylor and junior Alan Usher each finished with two caused turnovers, while redshirt junior Josh Mauer went 15-of-26 on faceoffs with five ground balls.
The Trojans out-shot the Crusaders by a 52-41 margin while going 19-of-21 on clear attempts.
