WINGATE, N.C. — Florida Southern College men's lacrosse (0-2) fell to No. 5 Wingate (1-0) with a final score of 17-11 on Saturday at Irwin Belk Stadium. The Moccasins staged a strong fourth-quarter effort, scoring seven goals, but it was not enough to overcome Wingate's early lead. Wingate capitalized on power plays, scoring five goals with an extra man advantage.
Florida Southern opened the first quarter with senior
Jacob Czyz winning the initial faceoff, setting an early aggressive tone. Despite this, Wingate scored the first goal of the match at 13:58 with Kyle Spence finding the net. FSC responded swiftly with junior
Maddux Walton scoring at 12:15 to level the score. In addition to their offensive efforts, Florida Southern exceeded their season average with 25 shots on goal and controlled the game with 21 faceoff wins, demonstrating their aggressive play.
Wingate regained momentum when Jarret Bitzer scored, assisted by Vinny Butrico, followed by Butrico's own goal, giving Wingate a lead. Despite freshman
Wayde Jamieson's saves, including a crucial stop against Sam Goss, the Moccasins struggled to maintain possession, with turnovers hindering their progress.
In the latter part of the quarter, Wingate capitalized on an extra-man opportunity with Sean Clark scoring, further extending their lead with another goal from Spence. As the quarter wound down, Clark added another for Wingate, bringing the score to 6-1 at the end of the first quarter. Florida Southern's persistence was evident in their ability to collect 37 ground balls, surpassing their season average, even as they faced challenges in maintaining possession.
Florida Southern began the second quarter with momentum, as Czyz won the initial faceoff, leading to a ground ball pickup. The team's persistence paid off when freshman
Angus Walko scored with an assist from freshman
Brady Schnurr, tying the score at 1-1. Shortly after, Walton capitalized on another assist from Schnurr, giving the team a 2-1 lead.
Wingate responded with a goal by Joey Moran, leveling the score. Despite this, Czyz continued to dominate faceoffs, allowing Florida Southern to maintain possession. However, Wingate regained composure, scoring twice more, including a man-up goal, to close the quarter with a 4-2 lead.
Florida Southern began the third quarter with a strong faceoff win by Czyz, but struggled to capitalize on initial possessions. Wingate quickly shifted momentum, scoring three consecutive goals within the first few minutes of the quarter, extending their lead. Florida Southern's offensive determination was evident as they registered 44 shots, more than doubling their season average.
Despite Wingate's offensive surge, the Mocs managed to steady their defense with key saves by Jamieson. The team finally broke through late in the quarter as junior
Kristian Kent scored his first goal of the season, narrowing the gap before the end of the quarter. The quarter concluded with Wingate leading 15-4.
In the fourth quarter, Florida Southern initiated a strong offensive push with Walton scoring early, assisted by Schnurr. Senior
Caiden Wiech followed with his first goal of the season, narrowing the deficit. Although Wingate responded with two goals, Florida Southern maintained momentum as Walton added another goal, further supported by Kent's score.
Florida Southern's offensive efforts continued with Walko scoring twice, including a man-down goal in the final minute, underscoring the team's resilience. Despite Wingate's attempts to counter, Florida Southern outscored them 7-2 in the quarter. The game concluded with a 17-11 victory for Wingate, as the Mocs' late surge highlighted their competitive spirit.
Walton scored four goals and added one assist on ten shots, leading the offensive efforts with seven shots on goal. Walko also found the net four times, converting four of his five shots, including one goal while a man down. Czyz controlled the face-off circle, winning 21 of 32 face-offs to maintain possession. In goal, Jamieson made 12 saves on 50 shots faced, highlighting the defensive efforts.
Butrico emerged as a pivotal offensive force for Wingate, recording 3 goals and contributing 5 assists from 13 shots, with 6 shots on goal. Clark was another standout player, leading the team with 6 goals, complemented by 2 assists. His sharpshooting was evident with 6 shots on goal from 7 attempts. Spence displayed his scoring ability with 4 goals, including a game-winning goal, while also leading the team with 5 assists. His contribution was critical, as he took 7 shots, with all 4 of his goals coming from shots on goal.
Florida Southern stands at 0-2 following their recent games. Wingate, ranked No. 5 nationally, holds a 1-0 record.
In their next game, Florida Southern will host 19th-ranked Saint Leo at Berend Field in Lakeland, Florida. The matchup is set for Saturday, Feb. 14 at noon.
