April 11, 2009    

MARS HILL, N.C. - The No. 7 Lions' lacrosse team was upset Saturday afternoon by Queens University of Charlotte, 14-13. Stephen LeBlanc scored the game winner with five seconds left in regulation. MHC fell to 10-3 on the season while Queens improved to 7-5 overall. Prior to the game, MHC recognized their 10 senior players.

Jeff Cizdziel (Stafford, Va.), Kris Frier (Tully, N.Y.), Brent Hann (Fallston, Md.), Kyle Hartcorn Patchogue, N.Y.), David Hodgins (Windsor, Ontario, Canada), Jason Lange (Danbury, Conn.), Rick Miller (West Seneca, N.Y.), Lance Renes (Aurora, Colo.), Nick Sigona, (Auburn, N.Y.) and Dru Ulloa (Lilburn, Ga.) played their final home game for the Lions.

With the score tied at 13-all, Murray Forbes sent the ball almost the length of the field where LeBlanc picked up the ball on a one-hop bounce and sent in the game winner from around 10 yards out with five ticks left in regulation. Hodgins shot the ball for MHC as the buzzer sounded but Brandon Macknew made the save to seal the win.

The Lions jumped out to a 3-1 lead with 7:34 left in the first quarter after Danny Farmer (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) scored on an assist from T.J. Cowx (Delta, British Columbia, Canada). Queens then scored three unanswered goals to lead 4-3 heading into the second period. The Lions won the second quarter, 5-2 to enjoy a 8-6 advantage at halftime.

MHC won the third stanza, 4-3 to head into the final quarter ahead, 12-9. The Royals out scored MHC 5-1 in the final quarter to leave Mars Hill with a one-point victory.

MHC out shot Queens, 38-37. The Royals won the ground ball battle, 48-43 while MHC was 2-3 on extra man opportunities. Queens was 0-3 on EMO. Queens won 17-31 face-offs.

LeBlanc led Queens with a game high seven goals followed by Brian Rose with two. Louie Boyle was the Royal's assist leader with two. Macknew did not enter the game until the second half and made five saves facing 14 shots to obtain the win.

Danny Farmer led MHC with four goals followed by Hann with a pair of goals and one assist. Cizdziel scored twice and was 6-11 in face-offs. Frier scored a goal and added an assist in the game. He added seven ground ball and a caused turnover. Sigona played the entire game in the net for MHC and made nine saves.

The Lions next contest will be in the first round of the Deep South Conference Tournament on April 17. The event will be hosted by Wingate University. Game times will be announced later next week.

Boxscore...

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