MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The Barton men's lacrosse team (11-7) rallied from a five-goal deficit in the third period to stun North Greenville (10-7), 9-8, in the finals of the 2023 Conference Carolinas Championship Saturday afternoon at the Ray McDonald Sr., Sports Complex on the campus of the University of Mount Olive.
Graduate student and midfielder
Mark Crawford (Chesapeake Beach, Md.) scored three goals for the Bulldogs, who stormed back from a 6-1 deficit early in the third stanza to capture their first league tournament championship in school history. Barton started its program in 2019.
The Bulldogs came into the championship seeded fourth while the Crusaders were the second seed in the tournament.
Barton junior midfielder
Logan Wheeler (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.), an all-conference performer this spring, found the back of net off an assist by senior attacker
Matt Calleri (Holly Springs, N.C.) with 55 seconds left to break an eight-all tie for the game-winning goal. Calleri had three assists on the day.
Barton held a 39-30 advantage in shots taken while freshman goalkeeper Alexander Stewart (Harford County, Md.) earned the win after tallying 10 saves on the day.
For North Greenville, Thomas Cecere (Grand Island, N.Y.) also scored three times to lead the Crusaders but Joe Amici (Williamsville, N.Y.) suffered the loss in goal despite six saves. Barton was also avenging a 15-12 loss to North Greenville in the regular season on Sunday, April 15, in Tigerville, S.C.
2023 Conference Carolinas Men's Lacrosse
All-Tournament Team
Mark Crawford, Barton (MVP)
Alex Brooks, North Greenville
Matt Calleri, Barton
Thomas Cecere, North Greenville
Alexander Stewart, Barton
Lucas Yearwood, North Greenville
Ryan Santos, Barton
Jacob Power, Belmont Abbey
Davis McCulley, Belmont Abbey
Chapman Parker, Mount Olive
Chaz Goodman, Mount Olive
