LaGrange, Ga.  The Methodist men's lacrosse team came up just short against LaGrange College on Saturday in a USA South Athletic Conference nail-biter. The Monarchs scored the last four goals of the game but were defeated 21-20 by the Panthers.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score:  LaGrange def. Methodist, 21-20
Records: Methodist 3-8 (1-3 USA South), LaGrange 7-6 (3-2)
Location: Callaway Stadium; LaGrange, Georgia

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The high-scoring affair started off in back-and-forth fashion – first the Panthers, then Monarchs, Panthers, Monarchs. Methodist's opening two goals were scored by Hunter Vaughan. A strike from Nate Moore briefly gave the Monarchs a 3-2 lead before a three-goal run put the Panthers out front. Methodist's RJ Breeden found the back of the net twice in the final two minutes of the first quarter, allowing the Monarchs to keep pace with the Panthers.
• Less than 30 seconds into the second period, Vaughan fed Jacob Burnette for a goal, but Methodist proceeded to concede four-straight scores to LaGrange over the next four minutes. Trailing 9-6, Vaughan notched two more scores – his second answered quickly with a goal by the Panthers. Ryan Kavounis was next to score, followed by another LaGrange goal, trailed by a trio of Methodist scores. The teams traded two more goals apiece prior to halftime, bringing the combined total to 17 goals in the second quarter alone. Breeden's goal with 11 seconds in the period lifted the Monarchs to a 14-13 lead over the Panthers.
• LaGrange took control of the third quarter, scoring five times. Methodist's only answer came with 27 seconds left in the quarter on a strike from Jake Bandler, preventing the third-period shutout and decreasing the deficit to three goals.
• The Panthers put the first two scores of the fourth quarter on the board to boost their advantage to five goals. The Monarchs added one back before allowing LaGrange to score another. With under six minutes to go, Methodist found a second wind that led to a four-goal surge. With 28 seconds remaining, the Monarchs won the final faceoff but turned the ball over without getting a shot off.

FAST FACTS

• Tyler Bennett recorded 19 ground balls on the contest – a program record. He's now totaled 246 ground balls in his collegiate career, making him the all-time leader in Methodist men's lacrosse history.
• Methodist's offense was paced by Hunter Vaughan who scored a career-high seven goals with one assist. Freshman RJ Breeden closely followed with a career-high five goals and one assist.
• The Monarchs were aggressive on faceoffs, winning 29 to LaGrange's 14. Tyler Bennett was 25-for-39 while Dakari Pearson was 4-for-4.

UP NEXT
Methodist returns to Fayetteville for a Wednesday matchup against Greensboro College at 7 p.m. in Monarch Stadium. (This contest was originally scheduled for March 25).