MOUNT OLIVE (April 6) – In an overtime thriller on Saturday afternoon, senior
Aidan Lalonde scored the game-winning goal, as the Trojans completed a 12-11 comeback victory over Belmont Abbey at Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex in Conference Carolinas play.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive men's lacrosse program collects its sixth straight victory and improves to 8-3 this season with a perfect 5-0 mark in conference action. The Trojans snapped a four-game skid against the Crusaders in the series while climbing into sole possession of first place in the league standings. Meanwhile, Belmont Abbey drops to 7-6 overall behind a 4-1 record in conference play.
Graduate student
Samuel Skousen led the team with a five-point performance behind two goals and three assists while Lalonde finished with three goals and one assist against the Crusaders.
In a low-scoring first quarter, Belmont Abbey scored the opening goal at the 9:15 mark before the Trojans countered nearly five minutes later behind a goal by Skousen, assisted by graduate student
Chance Urban, 1-1. The Crusaders regained a 2-1 edge in the closing minutes of the first before senior
Chapman Parker rattled the back of the cage to tie the contest at 2-2. Mount Olive scored six unanswered goals in the second quarter with six different goal scorers to establish an 8-2 lead. Belmont Abbey responded with back-to-back goals in the final 2:40 to trail by an 8-4 margin at the break.
The Trojans were held scoreless in the third quarter while the Crusaders scored three goals in the final three-plus minutes to close the gap to 8-7. BAC knotted the game at 8-8 at the 12:31 mark of the fourth before Skousen scored to end the drought and reclaim the lead, 9-8. Belmont Abbey countered with three consecutive goals in the span of nearly four minutes to build an 11-9 edge with 6:15 to go. Sophomore
Benjamin Vanderkley started the comeback with a goal at the 4:31 mark before Lalonde scored to tie the game at 11-11.
In overtime, both teams were unsuccessful in their opening possession before Lalonde slotted home the game-winner with 1:04 left in the first extra period to clinch the 12-11 victory.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Kurtis Lensing collected 16 saves in the win while facing 46 shots in 60 minutes of play.
Defensively, senior
Zachary Taylor caused a pair of turnovers and picked up a team-high seven ground balls. At the same time, junior
Davin Ikert finished with two caused turnovers and four ground balls.
The Trojans are idle for a week before hosting Emmanuel on Saturday, April 13, for Senior Day at 11 a.m.
