HICKORY, N.C. – The No. 8 Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Lacrosse Team opened the 2021 campaign with a 9-8 victory at North Greenville on Saturday night. David Bell recorded his first career hat trick to lead the Bears to victory. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 9, North Greenville 8
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (1-0), North Greenville (0-2)
Location: Pepsi Stadium

STATS OF THE GAME:
• Bell entered the game with five career goals but scored four times to propel Lenoir-Rhyne to the non-conference win 
• LR jumped out to a 5-0 advantage with four different players recording a goal in the run 
• Zach Bodeau won 10-of-15 face offs and scooped up a team-high seven ground balls in the victory. 
• Defensively, Connor Stanley caused four turnovers and had five ground balls while Noah Johnson made nine saves. Johnson added a goal for LR
• The Bears won despite committing 29 turnovers and going just 22-of-31 in clears on the night
• LR held a 31-30 advantage in ground balls but North Greenville led in shots, 40-33

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• This was the first ever meeting between Lenoir-Rhyne and North Greenville
• The last time Lenoir-Rhyne played a Conference Carolinas school, LR topped No. 1 Limestone 18-16 last March 
• LR improves to 47-12 all-time as a ranked team
• North Greenville had the ball and a chance to tie the game at the end of regulation but the Bears defense shut down NGU

UP NEXT:  The Bears will host nationally-ranked Belmont Abbey next Saturday in the home opener.