Men's Lacrosse Falls at No. 10/12 Mount Olive in Close Season Opener

MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. - The Coker University men's lacrosse team fell at No. 10/12 Mount Olive in a close season-opening contest on Wednesday (Feb. 10) by a score of 10-8.

Coker got things started quickly with a goal from Ethan Irizarry assisted by Cal Gibson just over a minute into the game, before the Cobras would increase their lead to two with a goal from Joe Venazio assisted by Henry Haskett with nine minutes to play in the period. Two Trojan goals would leave the game tied with a minute and a half to play in the first quarter, before Matt Murphy would score from Jason McNeany with 1:25 to play in the quarter to give the Cobras a 3-2 lead. Coker then took its one-goal lead to the second.

Mount Olive would score less than three minutes into the second to tie the game, before goals 30 seconds apart from Dominic Madlang put the Cobras up 5-3 with under nine minutes to play in the period. While Mount Olive would score with six minutes to play in the quarter to get back within one, Andrew Dappen would score from Venazio 50 seconds later as Coker took a 6-4 lead. The Cobras would take their two-goal lead to the half.

Mount Olive began the third quarter with three straight goals to take a 7-6 lead, before Murphy would score unassisted to tie the game at seven with eight minutes to play in the frame. A Trojan goal 35 seconds later would be the final marker of the period, as Mount Olive took an 8-7 lead to the fourth quarter.

Mount Olive would score two of the three goals in the fourth quarter to take the season-opening victory on its home turf. Dappen scored unassisted with under seven minutes to play in the game to get the Cobras back within one, before a late Trojans goal would seal the win.

Murphy, Madlang and Dappen each scored twice in the game, while Irizarry and Venazio each tallied one goal. Venazio dished out two assists, while three other Cobras helped on one goal each in the game. Venazio and Irizarry broke their tie for fourth on the all-time career points list, with Venazio up to 106 and Irizarry to 104. Murphy and Irizarry also broke a sixth-place tie on the career goals list, with Murphy now at 67 and Venazio and 66. Coker out-worked Mount Olive for ground balls 23-17 in the game, led by five from McNeany. McNeany now sits within one ground ball of third place on the all-time career list held by Deshaun Ormond (164, 2015-18). Dezmon Patten collected three ground balls in the game, while four others each picked up two. Six other Cobras each scooped up one round ball in the contest. Coker caused six turnovers in the game, led by two from James Brugger. Venazio and Kaleb Philson each caused one turnover in the game. Chris Hagy made 13 saves between the pipes in the game.

The Cobras are back in action at home on Feb. 23 to face Chowan in non-conference action. Opening face-off is set for 3:00 p.m. from the Coker Athletic Field, with video and live stats available at www.cokercobras.com.

Coker University will continue to assess the NCAA, federal, state and local developments and provide updated revisions as additional information is available.