Williamsburg, KY – The fourth-ranked UC men's lacrosse team set season-high in goals, while their defense recorded 17 caused turnovers to defeat fifth-ranked Columbia 17-5 Sunday afternoon at the UC Lacrosse Complex.  It marks the Patriots fourth win over a NAIA ranked opponent this season as they improve to 4-0 overall, while the Cougars move to 1-2.

Dylan Crouch led the way UC tying the program record and career-high with six assists to go along with a pair of goals.  Christian Vanover netted four goals while Thomas Fogarty recorded a hat trick.  Nick Kava dished out a career-high four assists and scooped three ground balls, while Maalek Wilson and Evan Barton each notched a pair of goals.

Jake Morgan and Stephan Popovich led the Patriots backline with three caused turnovers each, as Taylor Long notched two caused turnovers and four ground balls.  Nik Kubik had a fantastic day going 18-25 on faceoffs with nine ground balls.  Will Settle made four saves to earn the win.

UC struck early as Crouch found Vanover, who fired a shot into the upper corner of the cage to take the early lead.  Barton and Dawson Coltran added goals in a two minute span to extend the lead to 3-0 midway through the first quarter.  Columbia scored back-to-back goals to pull within one, however, Wilson and Tanner Popovich each added a goal in the final two minutes to give the Patriots a 5-2 lead. 

Kubik won all six faceoffs in the second quarter as Cumberlands outshot the Cougars 17-5 in the period.  Crouch made it 6-2 after circled behind the cage and fired a well-placed shot for the goal.  Noah Brandt scooped the ground ball off the ensuing faceoff and Kava found Wilson in front of the cage for a spin shot extending the lead to 7-2 with 12:21 remaining.  The Patriots defense continued to step up as Jake Morgan and Stephan Popovich both forced turnovers, while Crouch found Kava for the one-timer at the 8:50 mark.  The two teams traded goals to close out the half as Cumberlands took a 9-3 edge into the break.

Crouch tallied four assists and a goal, while Vanover notched a hat trick in the third quarter.  The duo combined for the four straight goals to open the period to make in 13-3 with 4:33 remaining.  Crouch than found Fogarty for back-to-back goals give Cumberlands a 15-3 advantage.  Will Settle made a pair of saves in the period to keep the Cougars at-bay as Kava found Evan Barton for a goal in the closing seconds of the period to take a 16-3 lead.

Breckin Sharkey netted his first collegiate goal in the fourth quarter before Columbia tallied the final two goals of the game for the 17-5 final.

The Patriots outshot Columbia 57-21 in the game and scooped 44 ground balls to the Cougars 17.

UC will return the field Saturday, March 11, when they host seventh-ranked Indiana Tech. Game is set for 7 p.m.

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