FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Justin Layden and Jake Smerka combined to for six goals and six assists as the Methodist men's lacrosse team ran past Alfred State, 16-6, on Thursday afternoon.
 
Justin Layden scored four times and added an assist, and Smerka had a pair of goals and a career-high five assists as the Monarchs (7-3) ran their program-best win streak to five games. Alfred State slipped to 0-5 on the season.
 
Methodist started quickly, getting three successive goals from Justin Layden, the last coming off a feed from Smerka, to assume a 3-0 lead by the 6:50 mark of the first quarter. Alfred State answered with two goals from Teddy Alvarado to pull the visitors within 3-2 by the end of the first period.
 
After the two teams traded goals to open the second quarter, MU responded with goals from Trevor Dickinson, Andrew Ruskey and Matt Layden to take a 7-3 lead into halftime.
 
A slow start to the third quarter was followed by a flurry of scoring, as both teams combined for five goals over the quarter's final 6:32. The Pioneers started the scoring on Aaron Buck's goal that made it 7-4 with 6:32 left in the period. Jaylen Robinson and Chris Lombardi scored for the Green and Gold to make it 9-4 by the 3:01 mark, and Alvarado and Smerka each scored in the last 2:30 for a 10-5 lead going into the fourth.
 
Smerka fed Justin Layden to open the final stanza, and after Patrick Matkoski scored for ASC, the Monarchs closed the game on a 5-0 run to seal the win.
 
Methodist dominated the faceoff X, including an 11-for-13 performance from Dakota Chapman. MU also held a 45-28 lead in ground balls, out shot ASC 48-18, forced 31 turnovers while committing 17, and killed off all four extra-man opportunities that the Pioneers earned. Conversely, the Monarchs' man-up offense converted on 5-of-6 chances, with five different players scoring with a man advantage.
 
Liam Von Hoene picked up the win, making three saves. Ryan Amidon made 14 saves for Alfred State in taking the loss.
 
In addition to Smerka and Justin Layden, Dickinson finished with four points on a goal and three assists. Robinson scored twice, and Sean Mayefskie and Aaron Ward each had a goal and an assist. Chapman led the way with six ground balls, Jacob Fitch had five, and Matt Layden and Daniel Richards each had four. Robinson forced a team-best three turnovers.
 
For Alfred State, Alvarado had four points on three goals and an assist. Buck had three points (1g, 2a), and Matkoski scored two times. Nathan Serio led the Pioneers with five ground balls, and Joseph Carr had a pair of ground balls.
 
The Monarchs hit the road on Saturday when they play at Randolph beginning at 4:00 pm.