HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker College men's lacrosse team opened conference play against Mars Hill University on Saturday (Mar. 2), picking up a 14-9 victory over the Lions.
The Cobras came out of the gates on fire as they jumped out to a four goal lead in the first quarter. Lucas Hediger and Joe Venazio connected for the first goal before Ethan Irizarry found the back of the net and Hediger scored his second goal of the quarter. Irizarry would get an assist later in the quarter on a Jonah Robertson goal and Justin Hopkins lasered a shot past the Mars Hill goalie to send the Cobras into the second quarter with a 5-1 lead. Venazio picked up another assists on a Nicholas Maddox goal early in the second quarter and three minutes later Venazio found the back of the net himself. With just a 1:30 until halftime Andrew Dappen took the feed from Hediger and extended the Coker lead to six before the Lions responded with a goal of their own.
Both teams traded goals to open the third quarter as Venazio and Matt Murphy provided the goals for the Cobras. Faceoff man Jason McNeany, who won 12 of his 22 faceoffs, picked up the ground ball after his faceoff win a promptly put the Cobras back up by six midway through the third quarter. Mars Hill looked to be making a late run before Maddox shifted the momentum with a late goal in the third quarter. The Coker defense locked it down in the fourth quarter as they allowed just two goals in the period, with James Brugger causing a pair of key turnovers to help seal the win. With just under five to play Robertson got on the scoresheet once again as he connected with Hopkins for a goal.
Chris Hagy was impressive between the pipes for the Cobras as he set a new single-game saves record with 21 in the win, besting the previous mark of 20 by Tim Ryan.
McDonald's Player of the Game - Chris Hagy