MISENHEIMER, N.C. Methodist University men's lacrosse were on the road Wednesday evening for a USA South Athletic Conference game against Pfeiffer University. The Monarchs could not stop the early pressure by the Falcons and ended up losing 18-9 at N.E. Lefko Field.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Pfeiffer def. Methodist, 18-9
Records: Methodist 5-9 (3-4 USA South), Pfeiffer 13-1 (5-1)
Location: N.E. Lefko Field; Misenheimer, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Pfeiffer's offense produced five goals to begin the first quarter before Jesse Leyble scored the first Methodist goal of the game. J.P. Galloway would add one more additional goal for the Falcons, 6-1, with just a few minutes left in the first.
- A couple of quick goals, 8-1, by Pfeiffer was how the second period began. The Monarchs answered back with scores from Nate Moore and Hunter Vaughan to get the team back within five of the lead. Each side tallied a goal -- one by Zach DeFazio of the Falcons and Cole Mayer of Methodist -- to keep the difference at five, 9-4. A late score by Jared Butler put Pfeiffer up 10-4 heading into halftime.
- Less than a minute into the third frame, Mayer found the back of the cage for the second time in the contest. That early goal by the Monarchs did not phase the Falcons as they went on a 5-0 run to close out the third and took a commanding 15-5 advantage.
- Leyble and RJ Breeden got the scoring started in the fourth stanza for Methodist, with each of them tallying a goal. The game finished up with both teams recording two more scores each as Leyble, for the third time, and Vaughan, second, found the back of the net.
FAST FACTS
- Leyble led the Monarchs in both goals (3) and points (4) for the contest. From Pfeiffer, DeFazio had a game-high five goals while Galloway led all scorers with six points.
- The Falcons controlled the face-off circle by securing 22 of the 31 face-offs. Tucker Hill finished with a game-high 13 (out of 19) wins while Elias Solano (6-of-7) and Jacob Dinnan (3-of-5) also picked up victories for Pfeiffer.
- Each team was able to cause about half of the opposing team's turnovers. Of the 25 Pfeiffer turnovers, Methodist forced 12 of them with Jake Bandler leading the team with three. The Falcons caused 10 of the 20 Monarchs turns and Kendall Jones finished with a game-high four CTs.
UP NEXT
With the Warren Wilson College game now canceled, Methodist is off until next Saturday, April 29. This will be the home finale, and senior day, for the Monarchs as the team welcomes Huntingdon College to Monarch Stadium. The opening face-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.