Fairfield, Conn. (April 2, 2016)--Spencer Smith matched a career high with four goals to help lead the Mount St. Mary's men's lacrosse team to a 19-16 win at Sacred Heart on Saturday night.  The 19 goals were the most scored by a Mount team since 2011.

After Sacred Heart (2-7, 0-2 NEC) opened the scoring, Smith scored consecutive goals to put the Mount ahead, 2-1.  The Pioneers were able to tie the game on a Bryce Jurk goal with 26 seconds left in the first quarter.

Mount St. Mary's (5-3, 1-1 NEC) scored six goals in the second quarter to take the lead.  Jack Mangan scored just 14 seconds into the second quarter to put the Mount ahead, but Sacred Heart was able to tie the game on an Alex Dodge goal.  The Mount then scored the next four goals to push the lead to 7-3.  Justin Gosnell and Bubba Johnson started the scoring run, Mike Moynihan added an extra-man goal, and Evan Gormley's goal with 4:46 left in the first half gave the Mount a four-goal advantage.  The Pioneers stemmed the Mount's momentum with consecutive scores, but Smith scored a the buzzer at the half to give the Mount an 8-5 lead.

The Mount then exploded for eight goals in the third quarter to grab a 16-7 advantage.  Gosnell and Lamon netted back-to-back goals to open the quarter.  After Sacred Heart responded with an extra-man goal, the Mount added three more goals to take a commanding 13-to-6 lead.  After another Sacred Heart goal, the Mount closed the quarter with three more scores to take a nine-goal lead.  The three-goal run included Johnson's second goal of the game, and a pair of scores by freshman Chris DiPretoro.

Sacred Heart rallied in the fourth quarter, scoring nine times, but the Mount was able to hold on for the 19-16 win.  The Pioneers scored seven times in the opening 9:08 of the final quarter to cut the Mount lead to 17-14.  Moynihan's second extra-man goal put the Mount back ahead by four, and Smith's fourth goal of the game made it 19-14.  The Pioneers scored twice in the final 2:19 to round out the scoring.

Smith finished the game with four goals and an assist to lead the Mount offense.  The four goals matched his career high set against Delaware on February 24, 2015.  DiPretoro and Gosnell each added three goals and an assist while Johnson chipped in a hat trick in the victory.  Lamon added a goal and three assists with Mangan and Moynihan each adding two goals and an assist.

Max Tuttle led the Pioneers with seven goals and an assist while Brian Masi added four goals and a helper.

Matt Vierheller made six saves for the Mount in the win.  Mike Celmer won a career-best 24-of-37 face-offs while picking up a career-best 13 ground balls. The Mount held a 45-to-41 edge in shots in the high-scoring affair while also owning a 41-to-31 edge in ground balls.

The Mount's 19-goal effort was the most goals by a Mount team since a 22-to-5 win over Wagner on April 23, 2011.

Mount St. Mary's is back in action on Friday, April 8, with a 7:00 p.m. game at Bucknell.