MARS HILL, N.C. --- Ryan Sage recorded five goals and two assists to lead the Mars Hill University men's lacrosse team to a 19-6 South Atlantic Conference victory over cross-mountain rival Tusculum College Thursday afternoon at Meares Stadium.

Trailing 8-4 at halftime, Tusculum (1-5, 0-3 SAC) notched a pair of early goals in the third quarter from Steven Raimondi and Ben Boyd to trim the deficit to 8-6. But the Lions (2-3, 2-2 SAC) closed out the game with 11 unanswered goals to secure the victory.

MHU's Anthony Malcom added four goals and three assists, while Jimmy McBride and Dima Ferriera tallied three goals apiece in the win.

Boyd and Raimondi finished the game with two goals each for the Pioneers, while teammates Jake Smith and Chris Ryan also tallied goals for the visitors.

Mars Hill goalie Ryan Kearney recorded 13 saves as he went the distance in the cage for the Lions. Tusculum net-minder accounted for 10 saves in goal for the Pioneers.

MHU edged TC 39-32 in shots and owned a 42-31 advantage in ground balls. Smith led TC with five ground balls, while Haggerty and Alexander Kleinberg totaled three each.

Tusculum returns to action on Tuesday when they travel to Harrogate, Tennessee to take on Lincoln Memorial University. It will be the first-ever lacrosse meeting between the Pioneers and the Railsplitters.

- TC -