HICKORY, N.C. --  In their first game since winning the 2023 National Championship, the No. 1 Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Lacrosse Team defeated Barton on Saturday afternoon at Moretz Stadium. 10 different players scored a goal for LR in the win who used a 6-0 run to close the second half to seal the win. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final:  #1 Lenoir-Rhyne 18, Barton 10
Records: #1 Lenoir-Rhyne (1-0), Barton (0-1)
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Moretz Stadium

STATS OF THE GAME

• After Barton scored the first goal of the game it was Caison Dillon who netted LR's first goal of 2024. 
• Barton took a 2-1 edge before LR rattled off four unanswered, started by a man up goal from Ryan Duncan. 
• Barton would rally and cut the LR lead to 7-6 with 8:09 left in the first half before Greg Paradine called a timeout. From that point on, LR closed the half on a 6-0 run to take a 13-6 lead into the break.
• Five different players scored in the 6-0 run with two coming from Donovan Powell. 
• Barton had a pair to start the second half before Jonathan Bender, Duncan and Evan Voss had the answer for LR. 
• Barton made it 16-10 with back-to-back goals to start the fourth quarter but Landon Parker and Will Canata made it 18-19 with two goals in a 28 second span.
• Duncan finished with a hat trick in his first career game with LR and Voss had two goals and four assists. In total, seven different players had at least two goals for LR.
• Barton was led by four goals from J.J. Mitchell and three goals and an assist from Logan Wheeler.
• The Bears held a 53-32 advantage in shots and 29-16 edge in shots on goal. The Bears won 24 of 32 face offs and held Barton to just 14-of-23 in clears.
• John Paulus won 15 faceoffs and had 10 ground balls while Matthew Mancini had nine face off wins and nine ground balls.
• Victor Powell caused three turnovers and had two ground balls and added a goal and an assist.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• This was the first time that Lenoir-Rhyne and Barton have squared off. 
• Barton becomes the 41st different opponent for LR in program history.
• LR is 4-1 in their last five season openers.
• This is win number 140 for the program as well as head coach Greg Paradine who has been the only head coach in program history.
• LR has won 37 straight against unranked opponents according to the USILA poll.

UP NEXT: The Bears will continue a stretch against Conference Carolinas opponents when they travel to Belmont Abbey for the first road test of the season on Thursday.