HICKORY, NC - The Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Lacrosse team took down Catawba for the second time this week, this time winning in th first round of the SAC tournament by a score of 22-10. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: (3) Lenoir-Rhyne 22, (6) Catawba 10
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (14-2, 8-2 SAC), Catawba (9-7, 4-6 SAC)
Location: Hickory, NC | Moretz Stadium

STORY OF THE GAME

• It was all Bears in the first half, as six goals in the first quarter and eight in the second game them a 14-4 lead at the break.
• The first nine goals were all scored by different people, with Nate Serrano being the first two-time scorer after scoring LR's 10th goal.
• Up 10-4 with three minutes remaining LR went off, scoring four goals in the final minutes to make it a 10-goal lead at half.
• Matthew Mancini capped off the scoring with a faceoff win and goal just before the half.
• Lenoir-Rhyne opened the second half by scoring four of the first five goals.
• Connor Kruse scored a goal with 21 seconds left in the third quarter to put LR up 19-6 after three.
• Lenoir-Rhyne scored three more in the final frame to secure the big win.

STATS OF THE GAME

• It was balanced scoring for Lenoir-Rhyne their 22 goals were scored by 14 people.
• Donovan Powell and Jarrett Huff each picked up hat tricks.
• Nine Bears notched an assist.
• Matthew Mancini was dominant on faceoffs, going 16-20 and adding 11 ground balls. 
• Jack Burdge picked up the win, making seven saves in the process.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• The Bears have advanced to the conference semi-finals in all but one year since the first tournament was held in 2014.
• This was the first SAC Tournament matchup between these two squads.

The Bears will now travel to Anderson next Wednesday to take on the #2 seeded Trojans in the SAC semi-finals. Anderson gave LR one of the two losses this year in a 15-9 win at Anderson back in early March. Game time will be announced early next week.