HICKORY, N.C. | Myles Moffat scored five goals as the No. 16-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University men's lacrosse team defeated Young Harris College 22-11 in the season opener for both teams Sunday (Feb. 9) afternoon at Moretz Stadium.

The Bears improved to 1-0, while the Mountain Lions fell to 0-1. Young Harris will face its second consecutive ranked opponent Saturday (Feb. 15) when they take on No. 5 University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida.

Lenoir-Rhyne scored four of the first five goals before the Mountain Lions got goals from Jimmy Johnston,Thomas Semple, Sam Gasta and Daniel Zimny in a four-minute stretch in the later stages of the first quarter as YHC got within a goal at 7-6 with 2:39 left.

The Bears would score the next nine goals, including seven in the second quarter, as L-R opened up a 16-7 lead on an Eric Dickinson goal with 8:24 to play in the third quarter. 

Semple led the Mountain Lions with three goals, while Gasta and Cody Bielec had two goals each. Johnston, Tyler Oglesby, Zane Zacharias, and Zimny accounted for a goal each. Bielec led Young Harris with three assists, while Beau Henson distributed two. Johnston and Zimny also tallied an assist.

The Mountain Lions corralled 25 ground balls led by Alex Venturino and Gasta, who each scooped up three apiece. YHC also caused 11 turnovers, including three from Andrew Grohovac. Max Fenno won six face-offs for Young Harris while Jacob Haas recorded five wins. Huck McCollum (12) and Bryce Parrish (9) accounted for 21 stops between the pipes for the Mountain Lions.