Columbia, Mo. – This evening the Columbia College men's lacrosse team hosted the Missouri Baptist University Spartans in a nonconference matchup. The Cougars came out on top 13-8 over the Spartans in a high pace match. Columbia is now 2-1 on the season.
The Cougars got things started right away with a goal within the first two minutes of the game from JT Huez. Sam Crum quickly followed putting Columbia up 2-0 just minutes into the first. The Spartans were trying to settle in as they found the net for the first time just over five minutes in, cutting the deficit to one, however Cougar Carson Morrisey answered right away taking the two goal advantage back. Huez grabbed his second goal of the night, assisted by Cooper Heck, to lead 4-1 with a minute left in the first quarter. With less than three seconds left in the quarter the Spartans grabbed one more goal to end the first with the Cougars up 4-2.
Columbia was the first to score in the second as Heck joined the scoring column, but again the Spartans able to respond quickly, keeping the separation at two goals, 5-3, with under eight minutes to go in the quarter. With the Spartans scoring again less than two minutes later, it was a one goal game. Four minutes left before the half and the Cougars took a quick timeout, leading 5-4. The Spartans comeback continued as they tied the game at 5 with three minutes to play. As the Spartans showed resiliency throughout the first half, the teams headed into the break still tied at 5.
Crum netted his second goal of the game right out of the gates in the third quarter to take the lead back. Crum then picked up the hat trick just minutes later as the Cougars led 7-5. Columbia kept up their attack as Heck grabbed his second of the night taking a three goal lead with around eight minutes left in the third. All momentum was on Columbia's side, as a pass from goalie Ty Hosler found Morissey on the other end of the field as he caught and shot into a wide open goal for his second, upping the score 9-5. Under five minutes in the quarter and the Spartans were finally able to get one on the board for the first time in the quarter. The Spartans continued to slow up the Cougars run, scoring two more goals, cutting the lead back to just one with a minute left in the third. Columbia executed in the final seconds to hit double digits with a hat trick from Heck, going back up by two, heading into the final 15 minutes.
The battle continued into the fourth quarter. Just over five minutes in Crum found the net yet again, grabbing some slight space up by three. Tyler Parrott stretched the Cougars lead 12-8 with under six minutes to play. Huez was the third Cougar to net a hat trick on the night as the score was 13-8. Columbia's surge of goals in the second half overpowered the Spartans as the final score was 13-8.
Ty Hosler was in goal for the Cougars as he recorded eight saves this evening.
The lacrosse team is back in action when they host Clarke University in a KCAC matchup on Friday, March 22nd. The game is set to start at 7 p.m. at R. Marvin Owens Field.
