HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. -- The Methodist men's lacrosse team dropped a 12-10 contest to William Peace in USA South action at Ting Park on Wednesday night.
 
The Monarchs (4-6, 2-2 USA South) opened the scoring on a goal by Michael Bradley at the 10:13 mark before Matt Layden scored 14 seconds later to put MU up 2-0. The Pacers 4-7, 1-3) got on the board via a Michael Meley goal, 2-1. Layden recorded two more scores 26 seconds apart to give the Monarchs a 4-1 advantage with just under six and a half minutes left in the first quarter.
 
WPU scored two goals to cut the lead to 4-3 before Cade Crews scored with 2:10 left in the period, 5-3. Meley tallied his second goal of the first quarter with just eight seconds left on the clock to start a 5-0 scoring run in favor of the Pacers that took most of the second period as they assumed an 8-5 lead with 4:13 remaining in the half. Layden ended a 15-minute scoreless drought for the Monarchs with 1:50 left in the first half off a pass from AJ Mejia's MU went into the recess trailing 8-6.
 
Each side registered one goal in the third quarter as Mejia's man-up goal at the 6:53 mark kept the Monarchs within two (9-7).
 
In the final period, Austin Abourjilie put the Pacers up three goals with 12:42 left in regulation before Mejia struck for his second goal of the game to set the score at 10-8. Two minutes later, WPU once again extended its lead to three goals with 7:23 showing on the clock. Layden tallied his fifth and sixth goals of the contest in the last 90 seconds, but it was not enough as the Pacers held on for a 12-10 victory.
 
Layden set a career high and tied a program record with six goals and also picked up two ground balls. Mejia finished with three points (2 g/1 a) and added a team-high eight ground balls and one caused turnover, while Crews registered a goal and an assist. Bradley finished with one goal and Brendan Sieman, who is the reigning USA South Men's Lacrosse Rookie of the Week, added an assist.
 
For the Pacers, Abourjilie led the way with five points on four goals and one assist, while Meley added three goals and a helper. Dalton Albright and Nick Falso each scored twice in the win.
 
Clay Stevenson and Jackson Bingham combined to make eight saves as each played nearly 30 minute apiece, while Nick Shelton stopped a season-high 20 shots in the win.
 
The Monarch outshot the Pacers by a 49-32 clip, including 13-3 in the third period. Peace picked up 38 ground balls as opposed to MU's 37, while Methodist won 14 of 23 face offs.
 
Methodist returns to the field on Saturday at Huntingdon beginning at 1 pm.