HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College men's lacrosse team dropped a South Atlantic Conference matchup to the visiting Wingate University Bulldogs on Saturday evening by a score of 13-11.
The Bulldogs pulled out in front in the first 15 minutes, opening up the game on a 3-0 run and eventually taking a 6-2 lead heading into the second quarter.
However, the Cobras fought their way back in, going on a 4-0 run to open up the second. Mike Martiello got things started, scoring his second goal of the evening, cutting the deficit to 6-3. Garrett Kilgore took advantage of a Coker man-up opportunity at the 11:37 mark, depositing a pass from Josh Smith in the back of the net to make the score 6-4. Back-to-back goals by Shane Wilson at the 10:21 and 6:49 mark tied the game up at 6-6, with Brooks Long and Smith picked up the assists on Wilson's goals. After a Wingate goal, Long struck again, this time on the scoring end of a Coker goal and tying the game back up at 7-7. The Bulldogs scored one more goal before the teams departed for halftime, taking a 8-7 lead with them.
Wilson started off the third quarter with a goal at the 13:49 mark, thanks to an assist by Martiello. Back-to-back goals by Wingate to close a low-scoring third quarter gave it a 10-8 lead heading into the final 15 minutes.
A Bulldog goal to open up the fourth capped off a 3-0 Wingate run and extended the lead to 11-8. The Navy and Gold continued to fight back, with Kilgore scoring a goal at the 11:13 mark and Smith scoring just 40 seconds later to cut the deficit to 11-10. Two straight Wingate goals stretched the lead back out to three with seven minutes left in the contest. Martiello found the back of the net for the third time with two minutes left, but that would not be enough as the Bulldogs took home the 13-11 victory.
Martiello led the way with three goals and three assists. Wilson finished with three goals as well, while Kilgore scored two. Smith and Long each had one goal and two assists, while Rylee Marsh picked up the other Coker goal. Smith also finished with nine ground balls and was 17-20 on face offs.
The Cobras will be back in action on Wednesday (Mar. 30) when they host the visiting Catawba College Indians in SAC showdown. Opening face off is set for 7 p.m.
McDonald's Player of the Game – Josh Smith