FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. | Young Harris College used a big first quarter en route to a 14-12 men's lacrosse victory over Emmanuel (Ga.) College Saturday (Feb. 29) aftermoon at the Stephen Athletic Complex.

The Mountain Lions leveled their record at 3-3, while the Lions fell to 2-4. Young Harris will open its Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule with a 2 p.m. match Saturday (March 7) against No. 15 University of Indianapolis at the YHC Soccer and Lacrosse Field.

YHC held Emmanuel scoreless in the opening 15 minutes as the Mountain Lions opened up a 5-0 lead. Jimmy Martelli scored the first three goals before Cody Bielec and Wyatt Peek found the back of the net.

The Lions scored four of the next five goals as they got within two at 6-4, before the Mountain Lions scored four unanswered goals (Daniel Zimny, Bielec, Tyler Oglesby and Sam Gasta) to open up a 10-4 lead with 1:58 left before halftime.

Young Harris held advantages in shots (42-40), ground balls (39-37) and face-offs (15-14).

Martelli and Bielec each led YHC with four goals, while Gasta added two more. Zimny, Peek, Oglesby and Jimmy Johnston each scored one. Thomas Semple and Zimny each led the Mountain Lions with three assists, while Bielec, Gasta, Martelli, Nathan Salaris and Ryley Zopfi accounted one assist apiece.

Zopfi led Young Harris with seven ground balls, while Parker Lamarque scooped up six more. Oglesby posted five grounds balls, while Gasta and Zane Zacharias had four each. Jacob Haas had eight face-off wins, while Max Fenno added seven more. 

Bryce Parrish added 12 saves in goal for the Mountain Lions.