FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Cade Crews tied the single-game program record for goals with six and the Monarchs staved off a late fourth-quarter rally to hold on for a 15-12 win against visiting William Peace University in the men's lacrosse USA South Conference opener Tuesday afternoon.

After four consecutive goals, Methodist had its largest lead of the game with a 15-7 advantage early in the fourth quarter. The Pacers scored the last five goals of the game to cut the deficit to a final tally of 15-12.

It was a day of season-highs for the Monarchs' offense as they set new marks for goals scored (15), assists (10), and shots (44). It is not a coincidence that Crews tied the program record for most goals in a game and although Crews fell two points shy of tying the program record for most points in a game, he did set a new season-high with seven points.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Oglethorpe, 14-6
Records: Methodist 5-3 (1-0 USA South), William Peace 3-4 (0-1)
Location: Monarch Stadium; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Holding a slim 6-5 lead late in the second quarter, Jack Bryan scooped up a ground ball, raced into the third, and found Bryce Kephart for a clutch goal while Methodist was in a man-down situation. That goal was the start of a dominant 9-2 run for the Monarchs that lasted over a span of 22 minutes.
• Methodist displayed its control of the game with three separate 4-0 runs. The first 4-0 run helped the Monarchs take a 6-3 advantage after the Pacers held a 3-2 lead in the first quarter. William Peace scored two consecutive goals to cut the score to 6-5.
• Over the final 10 and a half minutes of the final frame, the Pacers scored five unanswered goals but the previous eight-goal deficit proved to be too much to recover from.

STAT FACTS

• Nick Lemieux was outstanding on faceoffs, winning 19 of 28. His faceoff excellence as well as his seven recovered ground balls helped tilt the edge to Methodist as the Monarchs outshot their opponents 44-32, including 39-19 through the first three quarters.
• AJ Mejia and Crews set a new season-high with 11 shots taken. Mejia turned his 11 shots into three goals and he also had an assist.
• Mejia continues to prove his ability in all aspects of the game by scooping up seven ground balls, tied for a team-high today. Another player with the do-it-all label was Kephart. Kephart turned six shots into two goals with an assist and he also registered a team-high three caused turnovers.
• Defenders Andrew Mayefskie and John Tartline recovered six and five ground balls, respectively, and they each caused two turnovers.
• Jack Bryan (one goal and three assists) and Hunter Vaughan (two goals and two assists) were also key cogs in the attack. Mark Chatt was the other Monarch with multiple points. Chatt had two assists.
• The Pacers' Nick Shelton had his hands full in the net. He had 11 saves.
• William Peace was led by Nick Falso, who had a team-high four goals and Dalton Albright, who scored three goals.

UP NEXT

• Methodist will play conference opponent Brevard College, Saturday at 2 p.m.
• William Peace is back home to play Southwestern in non-conference action, Sunday at 2 p.m.