Williamsburg, KY – Will Settle made a career-high 17 saves to help the top-ranked UC men's lacrosse team defeat sixth-ranked Siena Heights Sunday afternoon at the UC Lacrosse/Soccer Complex.  With the win the Patriots improve to 4-1 on the season, while the Saints fall to 1-1.

It was a defensive battle right from the start as the two teams combined for eight saves and 12 turnovers in the opening period.  After eight minutes of scoreless play, Siena Heights struck first as Jake Gallaher found the upper corner of the cage to take a 1-0 lead with 6:40 remaining.  UC responded two minutes later as Whitten McCune connected with Dylan Crouch for a goal to even the score 1-1. Cumberlands looked to take the lead but couldn't convert keeping the score 1-1 after the opening quarter.

Siena Heights scored back-to-back goals to start the second quarter, however the Patriots responded as Sam Collinson found Alex Heckler in front of the cage for a goal cutting the score to 3-2 with 7:05 remaining.  Two minutes later, Preston Brooks tallied an unassisted goal to even the score at 3-3.  The Saints retook the lead on a Gallaher goal to give Siena Heights a 4-3 advantage at the break.

Devon McMillin scooped the opening faceoff of the third quarter and on the ensuing possession Heckler found Crouch for a goal to tie the game at 4-4 15 seconds in.  The two teams traded goals before Collinson found Heckler for a goal to make it 6-5 with 3:37 remaining.  Less than a minute later, McMillin caused a Saints' turnover and on the ensuing transition Jake Mitchell found Crouch for a goal making it 7-5 after three quarters.

Cumberlands extend their lead a minute into the fourth quarter as Preston Brooks' shot was deflected off a Saints' defender into the goal to make in 8-5.  Siena Heights notched a man-up goal before Anthony Gray netted his first collegiate goals to make it 9-6 with 9:59 remaining.  Siena Heights cut the lead to 9-8 with 7:25 remaining, however that was the closest they got as Settle made a pair of saves to preserve the win.

Settle's has now recorded at least ten saves in four straight games. Crouch and Heckler both notched hat tricks in the game, while Collinson dished out a pair of assists. Kody Swann went 14-21 on faceoffs with six groundballs, as McMillin tallied three caused turnovers and four ground balls.

UC returns to action Wednesday, March 13, as they travel to West Palm Beach to face fifth-ranked Keiser at 8 p.m.

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