MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – For the third straight season, the Lander men's lacrosse team opened its season with a win, as it took down Mount Olive 11-7 on the road Saturday afternoon.
Kyle DeCrispino led the way with six goals against the Trojans. Four players were tied with two groundballs while James Linn and Luke Zirnsak each had two caused turnovers.
First Quarter
The Bearcats would begin the first quarter of the 2023 season with four goals. Lander would score four times on 13 shots with eight going on target. Kyle DeCrispino would notch the first goal of the season to put Lander up 1-0 with 12:53 left in the first half.
The Trojans would score back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead before Adam Mather would score a goal on the man advantage to tie the game 2-2 with 7:44 left in the first half.
Lander would keep the scoring going with two more unanswered goals as Nolan Oakey and Mather scored to push the Bearcats in front 4-2.
Second Quarter
The second frame would be an even contest between the two sides. Lander would tack on two more goals while the Trojans would score three. The Bearcats put 4-of-6 shots on goal in the second quarter.
DeCrispino would be the first to score in the second quarter for Lander as the Bearcats increased its lead to 5-2 with 13:52 left in the second quarter. Mount Olive would score a goal to get within two goals with 12:46 remaining before DeCrispino scored his third of the game with nine minutes left in the second half. The Trojans would score two unanswered goals to go into the half trailing the Bearcats 6-5.
Third Quarter
Lander would continue to outpace the Trojans, as the Blue and Gold fired home four more goals in the third quarter. Lander put 6-of-7 shots on goal in the third frame.
Oakey would be the first to score as Lander took a 7-5 lead with 9:15 let in the third. DeCrispino notched his fourth of the game to put Lander up 8-5 with 8:35 left before Mount Olive would score to make it 8-6 with 7:34 left in the third. DeCrispino would continue to score, this time firing home his fifth of the game to put Lander up 9-6 with 3:01 left in the third quarter.
Mount Olive scored its seventh of the game with 1:17 left before James Linn scored with 45 seconds left to give Lander a 10-7 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
The final quarter would be quiet for both sides. The Bearcats would score the only goal of the quarter with 5-of-7 shots going on goal. Mount Olive put 9-of-15 shots on goal in the final frame.
DeCrispino scored his sixth of the game with 2:53 left in the game as he gave the Bearcats a 11-7 lead.
Rhys Peterson played the entire game and made 21 saves in the win for Lander.
The Bearcats travel to face Coker for its next match, with the Cobras welcoming the Bearcats on February 11.
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