MOUNT OLIVE (Feb. 26) – Despite a solid first-half performance against a top-five nationally ranked opponent, the Trojans were unable to hold off a second-half surge in an 18-6 loss versus No. 5 Wingate in non-conference action at Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex on Wednesday afternoon.
With the loss, the University of Mount Olive men's lacrosse program falls to 1-4 this season after facing four opponents from the South Atlantic Conference (SAC). The Bulldogs hold a 5-4 edge in the series all-time while winning the last four meetings. Meanwhile, Wingate improves to 4-0 overall with a pair of victories over Conference Carolinas programs.
Junior
Benjamin Vanderkley netted his second hat trick of the season while graduate student
Bubba Bowen and sophomore
Chase Penner finished with two points behind one goal and one assist. Junior
Micaiah Boyle tallies a pair of assists in the loss against the Bulldogs.
In the first quarter, Wingate built a 1-0 lead at the 11:11 mark before Vanderkley tied the contest at 1-1 off an assist by Boyle. The Bulldogs tallied a goal minutes later to regain a one-goal advantage, but Bowen delivered a goal with two minutes to go to knot the contest at 2-2. With just 56 seconds left on the clock, Wingate scored to take a 3-2 edge into the second quarter. The Bulldogs totaled three unanswered goals to take a 6-2 lead. In the final minutes of the quarter, Vanderkley and Penner registered goals to trail 6-4 at the break.
Wingate took a significant lead in the third quarter following six consecutive goals to establish a 12-4 advantage. Vanderkley completed his hat trick at the 1:01 mark of the quarter before the Bulldogs scored in the final seconds to hold a 13-5 lead. Wingate outscored the Trojans 5-1 in the fourth with the lone goal by UMO netted by junior
Hudson Karasek.
Junior
Kurtis Lensing finished with nine saves on 47 shots faced in 60 minutes of action with four ground balls. Defensively, senior
Alan Usher recorded three caused turnovers in the contest with two ground balls. Redshirt senior
Josh Mauer finished 13-of-21 on faceoffs with six ground balls.
The Trojans return to Conference Carolinas action on Wednesday, Feb. 26, with a road contest versus Lees-McRae at 2 p.m.
