UMO takes win on Senior Day over Chowan

MOUNT OLIVE – After recognizing seven seniors prior to the game, the University of Mount Olive Men’s lacrosse team beat Chowan by an 11-9 margin in the regular season finale at Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex on April 20.

With the win, Mount Olive finished the regular season at 6-7 overall with a 4-2 mark in league play. The Trojans clinched the No. 3 seed in the Conference Carolinas tournament. Meanwhile, the Hawks fell to 4-10 this season with a 2-4 mark in conference action.

Graduate student Blake Tallon was first to net a goal off a pass from junior Chapman Parker to give UMO a 1-0 lead at the 9:35 mark. In response, Chowan scored to level the match at 1-1. Making his first appearance at home, junior Jack Lewis scored his first goal of the season, 2-1. Closing the first quarter, CU scored on a man-up opportunity, 2-2.

In the second quarter, the Hawks were first to net a goal at the 9:58 mark of the game, 3-2. Leveling the score, junior Aidan Lalonde put one in the back of the cage, as the Trojans tied up the match at 3-3 going into halftime.

At the start of the second half, Chowan scored three straight goals to take the lead 6-3. Soon after UMO saw six consecutive goals, all of which were scored in the third quarter. With back-to-back goals from senior Chaz Goodman, the Trojans only trailed by one, 6-5. Scoring his first goal of the season, senior R.J. Chandler tied the match 6-6. On a man-up opportunity, a pass from Lalonde allowed Parker to rip a shot past the keeper, 7-6. Completing his hat trick, Goodman scored his 19th goal of the season, 8-6. With 38 seconds left in the third quarter, Lalonde netted his second goal of the game, 9-6. Chowan scored the last goal of the third to keep the game within two, 9-7.

In the last frame, freshman Benjamin Vanderkley placed a shot right under the crossbar to score at the 13:48 mark, 10-7. About a minute later, the Hawks scored on a man-up opportunity, 10-8. Completing his hat trick, Lalonde scored his 21st goal of the season, 11-8. Although CU was able to score, the Trojans sealed the Senior Day win.

Goodman finished the game with three goals and three assists with two ground balls. Fellow teammate Lalonde also finished the contest with three goals and one assist. Sophomore Brady Laurance collected nine ground balls in the win.

Goalkeeper Jacob Brown finished the game with nine saves on 18 shots on goal.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics