HICKORY, N.C.-- The No. 3 Lenoir-Rhyne men's lacrosse team opened the 2023 campaign with a 15-goal victory over Maryville on Saturday afternoon in their first game in the renovated Moretz Stadium. After Maryville netted the first goal of the game, LR responded with a 16-1 scoring run to dominate the Saints.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: #3 Lenoir-Rhyne 19, Maryville 4
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (1-0), Maryville (0-1)
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Moretz Stadium
STATS OF THE GAME
- The Saints scored first at the 10:45 mark of the first quarter but then were held scoreless until the 5:42 mark of the second quarter.
- Bryce Reece scored the Bears first goal of the season off an assist by Toron Eccleston which opened a 7-0 scoring spurt.
- Six different players scored a goal in the 7-0 run which ended with Matt Martyn's second goal for the Saints.
- LR would end the half on a 3-0 spurt with a pair of man-up goals from Myles Moffat and Joe Venazio. It was more of the same in the second half as LR scored the first six to make it a 9-0 run.
- Eccleston and Nate Ashley each added man-up goals in the third quarter and Moffat and Venazio tallied man-up goals in the fourth. The six man-up goals are the most in a single-game in program history.
- LR held a 41-31 advantage in shots and 31-13 edge in shots on goal. The Bears dominated the ground ball column, taking a 40-18 edge.
- The Bears were 6-for-6 on extra man opportunities and held Maryville to 0-for-5 with the extra man.
- Eccleston finished with four goals and an assist and Moffat and Riley Seay had three goals and two assists each.Will Canata had one goal and two helpers.
- John Paulus won 11 of 18 face offs and grabbed a game-high seven ground balls and Victor Powell and Nate Ashley each caused three turnovers.
- Nate Hoffman earned his first career win with seven saves in his three quarters of action. Rob Pensabene came in and held the Saints scoreless in the fourth quarter with a pair of stops.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Bears are now 4-9 all-time in season openers but own a 4-2 mark over the past six years.
- This was the first game for LR since May 15, a span of 265 days.
- This marked the second meeting between the programs with LR winning both times in Hickory.
- The Bears improve to 71-29 all-time at home and have won 11 straight between the bricks.
- LR won its 30th straight game against an unranked opponent.
- Moffat surpassed Ned Kaish for sole possession of third place in career goals at LR.
- Eccleston also had four goals and an assist in last year's season opener.
UP NEXT: LR will return to action next Saturday when they travel to North Greenville for another noon face off.