No. 10 Wingate tops Mount Olive

MOUNT OLIVE – Facing their first-ranked opponent of the year, the Trojans dropped a 19-10 contest against No. 10 Wingate in non-conference action on Feb. 18.

With the loss, the University of Mount Olive men’s lacrosse program dropped to 1-2 this season. Meanwhile, Wingate improved to 2-1.

Mount Olive netted the opening five goals of the contest from graduate student Mike Marto, junior Chapman Parker, junior Aidan Lalonde, and a pair from senior Chaz Goodman to lead 5-0. Wingate brought the game to a one-score difference with four consecutive goals, 5-4. Closing the first quarter, senior Blake Gallon put one past the keeper off a pass from Parker to increase the UMO lead to 6-4.

The Bulldogs were the first to score in the second quarter at the 13:42 mark to trail 6-5. In response, graduate student Braydon Hickey scored his second goal of the year from a pass by Goodman and UMO led 7-5. After trailing a majority of the first half, Wingate scored back-to-back goals to tie the game 7-7. On a man-up opportunity, Lalonde put one past the keeper to regain an 8-7 advantage for UMO. With 33 seconds left, the Bulldogs closed the first half with a goal to tie the match, 8-8.

Wingate took the lead as they scored six unanswered goals in the third quarter to lead 14-8. Finishing the third quarter, Goodman completed the hat trick at the 2:32 mark of the match to cut the gap to 14-9. Scoring the first goal of the fourth quarter, Parker netted UMO’s last goal of the match. The Bulldogs pulled away in the final nine minutes with five goals to seal the win, 19-10.

Goodman led the team with three goals, two assists, one ground ball and a caused turnover. Sophomore Brady Laurance finished with a game-high nine ground balls. Marto led the match with 22 of 32 faceoffs.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics