HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College men's lacrosse team fell in the 2016 season opener 12-10 to the visiting Rollins College Tars on Friday (Feb. 12) afternoon.
The Tars came out of the gate on fire, netting three goals in the first four minutes to open up a 3-0 lead. Rylee Marsh was able to respond late in the opening quarter, scoring the first Coker goal of the season and closing the deficit to 3-1.
It was Rollins once again scoring early goals; this time it was two in the first four minutes to take a 5-1 lead. However, the Cobras began to stage their comeback. First team all-conference selection Mike Martiello struck first, finding the back of the net with 10:32 left in the second quarter. All-conference selections Shane Wilson kept the Coker comeback alive, scoring a goal at the 5:58 mark, thanks to assist from fellow honoree Josh Smith. Martiello struck once again, just 35 seconds later scoring his second goal to leave Coker down by just one. After a forced turnover by Tyler Kraemer, the Cobras pushed in transition resulting in a Marsh five-hole goal to tie the game up at 5-5. Rollins scored two goals in the final two minutes to take a 7-5 lead into the locker room.
The Tars opened up the third quarter with two goals in the first 50 seconds to cap off a 4-0 run, taking a 9-5 lead. Garrett Kilgore scored his first goal in a Coker uniform, after finishing on a pass from Wilson cutting the deficit to three. Wilson scored with 1:17 left in the third quarter off of an Austin Holgate assist to make the score 9-7. A goal in the closing minute by Rollins pushed its lead to 10-7 with 15 minutes left to play.
After a Rollins goal in the opening two minutes, Wilson scored a man-up goal, his third of the day, cutting the deficit back to three. After another Tar goal, the Cobras were down four with 10 minutes left. The Navy and Gold were able to net two goals down the stretch thanks to Adam Zinsmeister and Holgate, but it was not enough as the Tars took home the 12-10 non-conference win.
Wilson finished the afternoon with three goals and one assists, while Martiello scored two goals and dished out two assists. Marsh recorded two goals on two shots, while Smith handed out two assists. Kilgore, Zinsmeister and Holgate rounded things out with one goal apiece, Holgate also notching an assist.
The Cobras will be back in action on Monday (Feb. 15) when they take on Roberts Wesleyan in a non-conference matchup. Opening faceoff is set for 3 p.m.
McDonald's Player of the Game – Shane Wilson
