Montreat, NC – JD Cook made a career-high 20 saves, while the seventh-ranked Cumberlands men's lacrosse team netted seven first quarter goals en route to a 23-6 win over Montreat Saturday afternoon.  With the win the Patriots improve to 7-5 overall and 4-3 in AAC play, while the Cavaliers move to 4-9 overall. 

JD made a career-high 20 saves, which is tied for third most saves in a game in program history.  Will Rogers led the way with four goals and four assists, while Dom Lulow netted a team-high six goals.  Caden Abbott dished out four assists and six points as Nathan Cook netted five goals.  Ty Grooms went 14-22 on faceoffs with 11 ground balls, while Kuwese Walker tallied four caused turnovers with a career-high two goals.

UC won the opening faceoff and on that possession Dom Lulow first a shot into the corner of the cage making it 1-0.  Ty Grooms won the next faceoff as Caden Abbott connected with Will Rogers for a goal eight seconds later.  JD Cook made a pair of saves before Lulow added a transition goal extending the lead to 3-0.  The two teams traded goals before Nathan Cook found a cutting Kuwese Walker for a goal making it 5-1 in favor of UC.  Brody Gilreath added an unassisted goal before Abott fired home a goal in the closing second of the period giving Cumberlands the 7-1 lead. 

The two teams traded possession throughout the opening minutes of the second quarter until Abbott found Rogers for a goal with 7:42 remaining making it 8-2.  UC controlled the possession over the next few minutes as Lulow nets three of the next four goals as the Patriots took an 11-3 lead into halftime. 

Montreat struck first in the third quarter, however, Cumberlands responded a few minutes later as Gilreath found Lulow for a goal making it 12-4.  Nathan Cook added back-to-back goals extending the patriots lead to 14-4 midway through the third period.  JD Cook made four saves before UC added a transition goal as Jack Sidwell scored off a pass from Cole Bastian making it 15-4 with 4:57 remaining.  The Patriots added three straight goals over a 21 second span, before scoring a late man-up goal to extend the lead to 19-4. 

UC continued their offensive efficiency with three different players scoring goals capped of by a Carter Barrett goal making it 22-4 with 10:50 left. The Patriots defense has continued to step up as the Cavaliers scored two of the final three goals for the 23-6 final. 

Cumberlands tallied 54 ground balls, while tallying 19 assists in the win.  On the day, UC went 26-28 on clears.

The Patriots will return to the field on Thursday, April 16^th, when they travel to Savannah, GA to face the fourth-ranked Bees.  Game time is set of 5 p.m.
                                                                                                                                           
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