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Methodist University Athletics

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Ryan Kavounis running past defender
Dennis Young
12
LaGrange LGC 7-10
16
Winner Methodist MUMLX 9-7
LaGrange LGC
7-10
12
Final
16
Methodist MUMLX
9-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
LaGrange LGC 5 2 4 1 12
Methodist MUMLX 3 7 2 4 16

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | | Matthew Shealy

Monarchs Earn First-Round Win Over LaGrange

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Hosting LaGrange College for the second time in 2024, the Methodist men's lacrosse team once again found itself in a tight match with the Panthers. Fighting for a spot in the semifinals, the Monarchs trailed after one period, but a big second-quarter push gave them an advantage that they were able to retain for the remainder of the contest.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. LaGrange, 16-12
Records: Methodist 9-7, LaGrange 7-10
Location: Monarch Stadium; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The first five minutes of play were a shootout. Methodist defenseman Nick Garza scooped up the ball on an early turnover by LaGrange, sprinting downfield all the way for a score – his first goal of the season – less than a minute into the game.
  • The Panthers put the next two scores on the board before Ryan Kavounis quickly answered with a goal, scoring after fielding a pass from the faceoff winner Kaleb Simpson. 20 seconds later, LaGrange scored again to take a 3-2 lead.
  • The Panthers went ahead 5-2 before Patrick Rowell scored the final goal of the quarter. Trailing by two, the Monarchs came out firing to start the second quarter, scoring four rapid goals to blow past LaGrange for a 7-5 lead less than four minutes into the period.
  • Scoring back-to-back goals, LaGrange retied the game at 7-7, but Methodist ended the half on a three-goal run – two scores by RJ Breeden and one by Kavounis with just 13 seconds left on the clock.
  • A 4-2 third quarter in favor of the Panthers put Methodist's lead in danger as the Monarchs held just a one-goal advantage. Methodist put any worries to rest by scoring four consecutive goals to take a 16-11 lead. The Monarch defense stifled the Panthers until the visitors scored a final goal with just over two minutes remaining in the contest.
FAST FACTS
  • When these two teams met in the regular season, the Monarchs won 16-10. The difference came in the second quarter, as Methodist outscored LaGrange 8-2. This time, the Monarchs outscored the Panthers 7-2 in the second quarter, once again making positive improvements.
  • Methodist dominated the faceoff battle, winning on 27 of 32 tries. Kaleb Simpson won 22 on 26 attempts, while Graham Clausen went 5-for-6.
  • Methodist spread the wealth offensively with nine goal scorers on the day. RJ Breeden and Ryan Kavounis led the team with three goals each, while Cy Horner and Mark Chatt each distributed three assists (a single-game season high for Horner).
UP NEXT
As the No. 4 seed, the Monarchs will travel to Misenheimer, N.C. where they will face the top-seeded Pfeiffer Falcons in the semifinal round of the USA South men's lacrosse tournament. The game is set for 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
 
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