April 4, 2009    

WINGATE, N.C. - The No. 8-ranked Mars Hill men’s lacrosse team outscored Wingate University 9-2 in the second half en route to an 11-4 Deep South Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field on the Wingate campus. Mars Hill completes its 2009 Deep South Conference slate and clinches the regular season championship in the process.

The Lions are 9-2 overall and 5-0 in the DSC. Wingate slips to 6-7 overall and 1-2 in the DSC.

Mars Hill junior midfield Danny Farmer (Calgary, Alberta) tallied four of his game-high five goals after intermission to help lead the visiting Lions to the league victory. After the two teams played to a 2-2 draw in the first half, Wingate took its only lead of the afternoon early in the third quarter.

Wingate senior midfield Ryan Otterblad (Dumfries, Va.) took a pass from senior midfield Evan Watts (Winston-Salem, N.C.) and scored his 23rd goal of the season to give the host Bulldogs a 3-2 advantage with 11:46 remaining in the third frame. Farmer answered 90 seconds later, scoring to tie the contest at 3-3 on an assist from junior attack David Hodgins (Windsor, Ontario).

Farmer and Hodgins reversed roles to give the visitors the lead for keeps. Hodgins posted his 32nd goal of the season on a boost from Farmer to put the Lions up 4-3 with 9:12 to go in the third quarter. The two goals started a critical 9-0 run to give Mars Hill an 11-3 bulge early in the fourth quarter. The last goal in the flurry was a Farmer marker from a Hodgins assist.

On Saturday, Farmer led all scorers with eight points (five goals, three assists). The Nike/Inside Lacrosse National Player of the Week for last week, Farmer leads the DSC with 41 goals this season. He also tops the league charts in points (54) and game-winning goals (four).

The two teams traded goals to start the contest. Farmer scored an unassisted goal at the 9:14 plateau of the first quarter to put the Lions on the board. Bulldog redshirt senior midfield Mark Hodsdon (Hilton Head, S.C.) responded, benefiting from an Otterblad assist to tie the contest with 1:44 left in the first frame.

The Lions and Bulldogs scored one goal each in the second quarter. Hodgins found the back of the net at the 10:55 mark of the second stanza to give the visitors a 2-1 edge. Farmer assisted on the play. Wingate senior crease attack man Greg Williams (Woodbridge, Va.) scored an unassisted goal with 4:47 to play in the second quarter. Williams has 35 goals this season.

Hodgins had two goals and three assists to support Farmer’s efforts Saturday. Mars Hill sophomore attack Eric Benesch (Bloomingdale, Ontario) contributed two goals to the Lion cause. Mars Hill outshot Wingate 34-20. In addition, the Lions scooped up 52 ground balls to 27 for the Bulldogs.

Mars Hill won 16-of-19 face-offs Saturday thanks to the exceptional play of senior midfield Brent Hann (Fallston, Md.). In addition to capturing 15 face-offs (in 18 tries), Hann recorded a game-high 12 ground balls Saturday. Two Lions had double-digit ground balls against the Bulldogs. Mars Hill junior midfield Kevin Woods (New Market, Ontario) had 11 ground balls in the league triumph.

Lion senior goalie Nick Sigona (Auburn, N.Y.) earned the victory, going the distance (60 minutes) in the process. Sigona allowed four goals and recorded eight saves Saturday.

Bulldog senior Chad Watson (Cary, N.C.) got the start on senior day, playing 46-plus minutes in goal. Watson posted 11 saves and allowed nine goals. Wingate freshman netminder Danny Dlugozima (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) finished the contest, working 13-plus minutes. He allowed two goals and did not notch a save Saturday.

Mars Hill entertains Pfeiffer University Tuesday night. The game at Meares Stadium begins at 7 p.m.

Boxscore...

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