FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist men's lacrosse team scored 13 first-quarter goals en route to a 25-4 win over Oglethorpe University on Sunday afternoon at Monarch Stadium.
 
The 25 goals for the Monarchs (3-1) established a new program record and MU had six different players record four total points. Methodist assisted on 15 of its 25 goals, outshot the Stormy Petrels (0-3), 64-23, including 44-10 in the first half, won 26 of 31 faceoffs, and picked up 52 ground balls to 20 for Oglethorpe.
 
The Monarchs needed just 48 seconds to record their first goal, as Ben Click took a pass from Jake Smerka and beat OU's Sean Merritt for a 1-0 lead. It took only 25 seconds for MU to add to its lead as Andrew Ruskey scored off a feed from AJ Mejia for a 2-0 lead. Four straight unassisted goals, including two by Kyle Clarkson, gave the Monarchs at 6-0 lead by the 10:13 mark.
 
Clarkson, Ruskey and Click each scored again before Smerka tallied three straight on his own as MU's lead ballooned to 12-0 with 1:50 left in the first period. Matt Layden closed out the first-period scoring with and unassisted goal with 44 seconds on the clock.
 
Methodist added six goals in the second quarter, including two from Aaron Ward, as the Monarchs held a 19-1 edge at halftime.
 
The Monarchs, slowed the pace way down in the second half and still managed to outscore Oglethorpe 6-3 over the final 30 minutes in improving to 3-0 all-time against the Stormy Petrels.
 
Jackson Bingham started in goal for MU and was not forced into making a save in his 17:17 of playing time. Clay Stevenson played 22:41 in the cage and made five saves with one goal against, while Liam Von Hoene played the final 22:41 and allowed three goals with one save.
 
Merritt started for the Petrels and made 12 saves with 23 goals allowed in 45:00. Nathaniel Gillespie played the final 15:00 and made three saves with two goals allowed.
 
Clarkson (3g/1a), Smerka (3g/1a), Mejia (1g/3a), Connor Glenn (2g/2a), Ward (2g/2a) and Ruskey (2g/2a) all finished with four points. Trevor Dickinson added two goals and an assist. In all, 17 players recorded at least one point. Jordan DeSalvo won 19 of 21 faceoffs with 11 ground balls, and Trent Diaz wa 7 for 9 at the X with six ground balls. John Tartline added three ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers.
 
Andrew Houghton scored twice for the Petrels, and Gillespie added a goal and four ground balls.
 
Methodist is off until March 4, when it hosts Virginia Wesleyan at 3:00 pm.