FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Jake Smerka scored four goals and added four assists as the Methodist men's lacrosse team ran its win streak to four with a 14-7 win over Hope on Saturday afternoon at Monarch Stadium.
 
The Monarchs (6-3) erupted for seven goals in the first quarter and a 7-0 lead after one period. Smerka fed Justin Layden for the game's first goal at the 11:16 mark, and 20 seconds later it was 2-0 after Smerka scored his first of the game. Smerka struck again 56 seconds later, scoring off a feed from Jaylen Robinson for a 3-0 lead. Smerka turned into a distributor at the 8:26 mark, feeding Andrew Ruskey for a goal that pushed MU's lead to 4-0.
 
Matt Layden, Mack Cox and Justin Layden each tallied goals in the period's final 7:16 for the 7-0 lead after one.
 
MU stretched its lead to 10-0 in the second quarter on goals by Smerka, Matt Layden and Trevor Dickinson before Hope got on the board on Will Dommermuth's unassisted tally with 3:35 left in the half. The Flying Dutchmen (2-2) added another goal with seven seconds left in the half to make it 10-2 at the break.
 
Dickinson opened the scoring in the second half, but Hope answered with four consecutive goals to pull within 11-5 on Gunnar Elder's goal with 12:22 to play. MU quelled any hopes of a rally with three straight tallies, including Smerka's fourth of the game, to put the game away.
 
Liam Van Hoene picked up his fourth win of the season, making seven saves in 60 minutes of play. Seth McCall started and took the loss. He allowed 11 goals and made five saves. Joey Williams played the final 30 minutes and allowed three goals with five saves.
 
Dickinson supplemented Smerka's day with two goals and two assists. Matt and Justin Layden each had a pair of goals, and Robinson chipped in a goal and two assists. Jacob Fitch corralled seven ground balls, and Trent Diaz and Daniel Richards each had five. Diaz also won 12-of-21 face offs, and Richards had three caused turnovers.
 
Elder led Hope with two goals. Parker Osterink had a goal and two helpers. Four different players had four ground balls, and Ryan Vander Ploeg and Dommermuth each had a pair of caused turnovers.
 
The Monarchs will look to run their win streak to five on Thursday when they host Alfred State at