HOLLY SPRING, N.C. – The Southwestern University Pirates men's lacrosse team closed the first half on a 9-2 run to defeat the William Peace University Pacers 26-11.
William Peace took a 4-3 lead with 1:57 remaining in the first quarter on an unassisted goal by Walker Rice, his second consecutive score. The Pirates responded by scoring three goals in the final 1:31, getting two unassisted scores by Blake Sterger and Everett Barger and another when Jared Welsh found Kai Knight-Turcan to give Southwestern a 6-4 lead with five seconds remaining.
The Pirates' momentum continued in the second quarter, scoring six of the eight goals with all but one coming unassisted to give Southwestern a 12-6 lead. Cody Foster found Zac Asbury with a man up for the Pirates' lone assisted goal of the quarter.
In the third quarter, the Pirates put together their most prolific offensive quarter of the season with 10 goals, scoring the final five goals of the quarter to take a 22-10 lead. Zach Taylor scored two of the Pirates' four goals in the fourth quarter.
Southwestern was led by Knight-Turcan's eight points, dividing equally with four goals and four assists. Jared Welsh and Zac Asbury totaled six points each, getting four goals and two assists.
The Pirates dominated possessions, winning 26 of the 38 face offs, led by Zane Abbott's 10-for-13 performance, with a 54-42 edge in ground balls, compiling a 70-41 advantage in shots.
With the win, the Pirates' record improved to 6-3 on the season, including a 3-1 road record. Southwestern University will travel to play Berry College on Tuesday, March 19 at 3:00 p.m.