FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist men's lacrosse team ran its win streak to three games with an 18-9 dismantling of Cazenovia on Thursday afternoon at Monarch Stadium.
 
The Monarchs improved to 5-3 on the year and the three-game win streak is the longest in the program's, short, two-year history. Cazenovia fell to 1-1 on the season.
 
The Wildcats struck first, taking a 1-0 lead when Brandon Maxson scored just over four minutes into the first quarter. Methodist evened the game at 1-1 less than a minute later as Jaylen Robinson fed Jake Smerka for his first goal of the game. Roughly two minutes after that, the Monarchs took a lead that they would not relinquish as Justin Layden fed his brother Matt for an even-strength goal for a 2-1 lead.
 
The turning point of the contest came with 1:25 left in the first when the Wildcats were whistled for a one-minute, non-releasable unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Over the next 60 seconds, MU pumped in three goals, one apiece from Matt Layden, Trevor Dickinson, and Andrew Rusksey to give MU a 5-1 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
Both teams scored twice to open the second period reeled off seven consecutive tallies to assume a 14-3 lead at the end of the third quarter. Ruskey and Dickinson scored twice during the run, and Robinson added a pair of assists.
 
Cazenovia closed out the contest by outscoring MU 6-4 in the final period, but the damage had been done.
 
Liam Van Hoene earned his third win in the cage, playing the first 43:34 and making six saves against three goals allowed. Andrew Chinigo played the final 16:26 and made four saves with six goals allowed. Alex Delavan took the loss; he allowed 16 goals and made just four saves in 49:15. Joe Harrison was in for the final 10:45 and allowed a pair of goals.
 
Methodist dominated the possession game, winning 21-of-30 face offs, and holding a 42-23 advantage in ground balls.
 
Trent Diaz won 18-of-23 face offs, and added five ground balls and one goal for MU. Ruskey finished with four goals, Dickinson had three goals and two assists, and Matt Layden had a pair of goals and two assists. Robinson finished with three assists, and Justin Layden (1g, 2a) and Smerka (2g, 1a) each had three points. Matt Layden also had a team-best six ground balls, Justin Layden added three, and Daniel Richards and Matt Layden each had a pair of caused turnovers.
 
For Cazenovia, Maxson and Eric Hanover each scored three times, and Chris Hoover had three ground balls. Hoover and Casey Dailey each had two caused turnovers.
 
Methodist will look to extend its win streak to four when it hosts Hope College on Saturday beginning at 3:00 pm.