FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist men's lacrosse team scored a pair of goals in the final 3:04 to edge Alma College, 8-7, at Monarch Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Methodist (2-1) converted 4-of-5 man up opportunities, while limiting the Scots (1-1) to just 2-for-10 with a man advantage, in winning for the second consecutive game. The man-down defensive prowess of MU helped offset Alma's 12-7 advantage at the faceoff X.
 
Entering the final period tied at 6-6, the Monarchs saw Alma take a 7-6 lead on Austin Irrer's man-up goal off a feed from Marshall Argenta with 6:59 to play. With 4:16 left to play, MU was whistled for a 30-second pushing penalty but managed to kill off the penalty without allowing a shot.
 
At the 3:41 mark, Alma was whistled for a penalty and Jake Smerka scored his third goal of the game, off a feed from Trevor Dickinson, with 3:04 to play and tie the game a 7-7. Exactly one minute later, Matt Layden scored the game-winner for the Monarchs.
 
Alma won the ensuing faceoff, but a turnover by Kyle Schnitzer gave the ball back to MU with 1:27 to play. Attempting to run out the clock, the Monarchs turned the ball back over to Alma with 1:18 left and the Monarchs weathered four shots from the Scots in the final minute, including two in the final 10 seconds that were saved by Andrew Chinigo.
 
Methodist and Alma were nearly deadlocked in shots (32-33), ground balls (40-38). The Monarchs won the turnover battle, 25-32. Chinigo made nine saves, including three in the final quarter, to pick up his second win. For Alma, Al Lesperance made 10 saves in the cage.
 
Smerka finished with four points on three goals and an assist, and Matt Layden scored twice with one assist, and Justin Layden added a pair of goals. Matt Layden (6) and Justin Layden (5) led the team in ground balls, and Josh Brown forced a pair of turnovers. Trent Diaz won 5-of-11 faceoffs and Dakota Chapman was 2-for-5.
 
Irrer had three goals for the Scots and Dan Buchy added two goals and an assist. Marshall Argenta chipped in had a goal and an assist. Tanner Diment was solid in the faceoff X, winning 10-of-16 and picking up eight ground balls. Austin Jordan had five ground balls. Sam Korbel forced six turnovers for the Scots.
 
The Monarchs are back in action on Saturday at Bridgewater beginning at 1:00 pm.