February 21, 2009    

LAURINBURG, N.C. - Danny Farmer (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) led No. 10 nationally ranked Mars Hill College to a 17-12 men’s lacrosse victory over St. Andrews in Saturday’s season-opener for both teams with a game-high six goals. Junior Kyle Carnaggio (Pasadena, Md.) and sophomore Ryan Hoover (Arnold, Md.) both had a hat trick for the host.

After a 3-3 first quarter, Danny Farmer (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) scored five of his six goals in the second 15 minutes as Mars Hill pulled away with a 9-2 surge in the second quarter. The Lions held a 12-5 advantage at halftime.

Both teams scored three goals in the third quarter before the Knights made things interesting in the fourth. SAPC netted three straight goals including a pair by Hoover to pull within four at 15-11. However, Mars Hill held the Knights to just one goal in the final six minutes while scoring two of their own to finish off the five-goal victory.

MHC held a 42-40 shot edge and a 47-39 ground ball advantage. The Knights had 14 extra-man opportunities but the Lions defense held SAPC to just one man-up goal. Mars Hill was 3-of-6 on the EMO.

Senior Ethan Young (Hilliard, Ohio) took every face off for the Knights and won 18-of-33. Senior Brent Hann (Fallston, Md.) won a team-high 11 face offs for the Lions. Young and Hann led their respective teams with eight ground balls apiece.

Lions’ senior goalkeeper Nick Sigona (Auburn, N.Y.) made 13 saves in the complete-game victory. Senior counterpart Nate Hull (Millersville, Md.) had six saves but was tagged for the loss allowing 13 goals in the first 32 minutes. Sophomore backup goalie Patrick Wade (West Windsor, N.J.) was between the pipes for the final 28 minutes, allowing four goals and making five stops.

Carnaggio scored the first goal of the game to give St. Andrews its only lead at 1-0. The game was tied three times in the opening frame before Mars Hill claimed the lead for good in the second quarter.

Sophmore Nick Lewnes (Arnold, Md.) led the Knights offensively with two goals and two assists for a four-point performance. Classmate Fred Parsons (Glen Burnie, Md.) provided one goal and two helpers; senior Kyle Loda (Vienna, Va.) scored twice; and senior Marcus Kirby (Greensboro, N.C.) chipped in with one goal and one assist.

A trio of Lions finished with six points including D. Farmer, sophomore Eric Benesch (Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada), and junior David Hodgins (Windsor, Ontario, Canada.). Benesch supplied four goals and two assists while Hodgins had a hat trick and three helpers. Hann had a pair of goals and one assist; sophomore Tyler Farmer (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) netted one goal and two assists; and senior Jeff Cizdziel (Stafford, Va.) had one goal and one helper.

Mars Hill will host Seton Hill on February 23 in their home opener. Game time is set for 3 p.m.

Boxscore...

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