HARTSVILLE, S.C. --- A six-goal run to start the second half rallied Coker University to a 14-9 victory over Tusculum University in South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse Sunday afternoon.
Tyler Ajemian scored three of his game-high five goals in the second half, where the Cobras (6-7, 3-4 SAC) outscored the Pioneers (3-10, 0-8) by an 8-1 margin. Ryan Forehand, Augie Ford and Justin Beighey each scored twice for Coker, which trailed 8-6 at halftime before limiting Tusculum to a Ben Hobday goal midway through the fourth quarter.
Luke Bowen paced Tusculum with three goals and an assist, with two goals each for Hobday and Preston Stewart and a goal and three assists from Clay Mendez. Tysen Fontenla also scored for the Pioneers, with two assists from Ben Royer, as Tusculum outshot Coker 38-36 in the match.
Nearly all of the team categories were even, with both squads picking up 24 ground balls and having two failed clears (Tusculum 19-for-21, Coker 23-for-25). The Pioneers finished with 14 turnovers while the Cobras turned the ball over 15 times, and Coker had a 15-11 advantage in faceoffs. Both teams had an extra-man goal in the match, with Tusculum having four chances and Coker six.
Tusculum led 3-1 in the first quarter behind goals from Bowen, Hobday and Stewart, but a late goal from Ajemian brought Coker within 3-2 after one period and triggered a four-goal run that left the Cobras up 5-3 with 8:01 remaining in the first half. Tusculum would pour on the offense in the final six minutes, netting five goals including two from Bowen to build an 8-6 lead at intermission.
Coker tied the score at 8-8 less than three minutes into the third quarter, and tacked on three more goals to go up 11-8 entering the fourth. Hobday put the Pioneers on the board with 7:42 left to bring Tusculum within 12-9, but Ajemian and Forehand scored in the final four minutes for insurance.
Royer and Alden Lyman led the Pioneers with four ground balls apiece, with two ground balls and two caused turnovers from Ayden Lightner. Brennon Madonia won 14-of-20 faceoffs for Coker and had seven ground balls, with Sean Moran collecting three ground balls and three caused turnovers.
KJ Seymour had 14 saves for the Cobras, including eight on nine shots on goal in the second half, while Brenden Pecora finished with eight saves for the Pioneers.
Tusculum will play its final road game of the season on Saturday, April 12 at nationally-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne, beginning at 5 p.m. The Bears, who have won five straight games, are tied for third in the SAC at 5-2 and stand at 10-2 overall following a 17-12 win at Newberry on Saturday.
