FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Methodist's men's lacrosse team outscored Marymount 7-2 in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 12-7 victory over the Saints on Saturday afternoon at Monarch Stadium.
 
The Monarchs (2-1) and Saints (0-1) were tied 5-5 entering the final period when MU's offense began to click.
 
Chris Lombardi needed just 54 seconds to break the tie and give MU a 6-5 lead when he scored an unassisted goal to begin play in the fourth period. Kellen McCarthy then tied the game at 6-6 at 13:27, scoring off an assist from Nathan Beard.
 
AJ Mejia took a pass from Jake Smerka and deposited a shot in the back of the net for a 7-6 lead and Smerka followed with a goal following a skip pass from Kyle Clarkson that made it 8-6 with 11:02 on the clock.
 
Matthew Ebert would get Marymount within a goal at 8-7 by the 9:18 mark, but Ben Click restored a two-goal lead exactly one minute later, taking a pass from Tyson Haith, one of his three assists on the day, to make it 9-7. Clarkson and Jay Robinson added unassisted markers down the stretch, and Haith found Lombardi for another as MU won its second straight.
 
Methodist outshot Marymount, 47-33, including 34-12 in the second half, and scooped up 39 ground balls to 33 for the Saints. The Monarchs held a 12-10 edge in faceoffs won, and converted 18 of 22 clears to 14 of 22 for Marymount. Methodist also limited the Saints to just 1 for 8 on man up opportunities.
 
Jackson Bingham improved to 2-0 in the cage for MU. He played all 60:00 and made seven saves with seven goals allowed. Grey Clarkson took the loss for the Saints, surrendering 12 goals with 13 saves.
 
In addition to Haith, four other Monarchs tallied at least three points - Lombardi (3g), Mejia (2g/1a), Smerka (2g/1a) and Clarkson (2g/1a). Jordan DeSalvo won 12 of 19 faceoffs, and Kyle Peacock led MU with five ground balls. Clarkson and Daniel Richards each had four ground balls, and Richards added three caused turnovers.
 
Beard led Marymount with two goals and two assists for four points, and Ebert scored three times. John Williamson picked up four ground balls.
 
Methodist is back in action next Sunday when it hosts Oglethorpe beginning at 1:00 pm.