Mars Hill, N.C.----Wingate University junior midfielder Conor Gronbach (Cary, N.C.) recorded a career-high six goals, helping the Bulldogs earn a 15-10 South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse triumph at Mars Hill University Saturday afternoon. Wingate scored the first four goals of the game and never trailed.
 
Gronbach added an assist to his statistical ledger Saturday for a game-high seven points. Wingate senior attack Jeremy Sullivan (Crofton, Md.) had three goals and two assists. For Mars Hill, freshman attack/midfielder Parker Beaudry (Edmonton, Alberta) had three goals.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: Wingate 15, Mars Hill 10
Records: Wingate 3-4 overall (1-1 SAC), Mars Hill 1-7 overall (0-2 SAC)
Location: Meares Stadium, Mars Hill, N.C.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Bulldog junior attack men Alex Llerandi (Marietta, Ga.) and Ryan Ormerod (Lake Mary, Fla.) had two goals each for the visitors.
-Sophomore attack Josh Ferentinos (Gaithersburg, Md.) had one goal and a team-high three assists for Wingate.
-Wingate outshot Lenoir-Rhyne 33-29 with a 24-20 advantage in shots on goal.
-Mars Hill won 18 of 28 face-offs and held a 43-35 edge on ground balls.
-Wingate sophomore goalie Ryan Ahrens (Austin, Texas) picked up his first career victory. In 48 minutes, Ahrens allowed five goals and posted nine saves. WU graduate student goalie Jacob Ormerod (Lake Mary, Fla.) gave up five goals in 12 minutes. He had one save.
-Mars Hill senior goalie Ryan Kearney (Tallahassee, Fla.) played 60 minutes. He had nine saves and 15 goals allowed.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Gronbach scored the game's first goal on an assist from senior attack Seth Grimwood (Huntingtown, Md.) at the 12:42 mark. Fittingly, Gronbach concluded Wingate's game-opening 4-0 run with a goal at the 6:39 plateau. He was assisted by Sullivan on the play. Wingate led 5-2 after the first 15 minutes.
 
Second Quarter
 
Mars Hill scored the first three goals of the second quarter to tie the contest 5-5. Lion senior attack Dima Ferreira (Abingdon, Va.) had a goal and an assist in the flurry. Sullivan responded for the Bulldogs, scoring back-to-back goals (5:44, 2:37) to make the score 7-5. Ferentinos assisted on the first score and Gronbach had the helper on the second. Ryan Ormerod finished the second quarter scoring at the 1:18 mark to send the Bulldogs to the halftime locker room with an 8-5 lead.
 
Third Quarter
 
Beaudry scored twice in the third frame. His second goal at the 10:55 plateau pulled the Lions within one at 10-9. Gronbach (7:39) and Llerandi (5:43) answered for Wingate, starting a game-ending 5-1 flurry for the visitors. The Bulldogs led 12-10 entering the final frame.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Wingate outscored Mars Hill 3-0 in the fourth quarter. Gronbach had two of the three goals, while Sullivan posted the other score. Ahrens and the Bulldog defense held the Lions to two shots in the final 15 minutes.
 
TURNING POINTS
 
Wingate's offensive runs were too much for Mars Hill to overcome. Ahrens did not allow a goal for the final 17:56 of the contest.
 
QUOTABLES
 
Wingate head men's lacrosse coach Tim Boyle: "Our offense did a nice job today capitalizing on their defensive mistakes. We struggled at the face-off and in our defensive end. We need to fix those things moving forward if we want to have success."
 
NEXT ON THE AGENDA

Wingate hosts Catawba for another South Atlantic Conference contest Wednesday at 7 p.m. Mars Hill entertains SAC rival Lincoln Memorial the same day at 2 p.m.