HICKORY, N.C. – The Barton men's lacrosse team (0-1) put up a valiant effort but fell to No. 1 Lenoir-Rhyne (1-0), 18-10, in the 2024 season opener Saturday afternoon at Moretz Stadium.
The Bears, the defending NCAA Division II National Champions, held a 7-6 edge midway through the second quarter before reeling off six consecutive goals just before halftime to take control and never looked back.
Lenoir-Rhyne, which held a 13-6 edge at halftime, was led by Ryan Duncan (Leesburg, Va.) with three goals while Evan Voss (Powder Springs, Ga.) added six total points – a pair of goals and four assists – as the Bears opened the season after their title with the win.
Barton was led by senior midfielder
J.J. Mitchell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) with four goals while preseason All-American senior midfielder
Logan Wheeler (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) added three scores but Bulldogs couldn't keep up with the Bears.
Lenoir-Rhyne held a 53-32 edge in shots taken while Nolan Hoffman (Indianapolis, Ind.) earned the win in goal after stopping five stops on the afternoon. Barton sophomore goalkeeper
Drew Wheeler (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) made 11 saves but suffered the loss.
Barton returns home to take on second-ranked Rollins next Saturday, February 10, at 1:00 p.m., at Truist Stadium while Lenoir-Rhyne travels to Belmont, N.C., to take on Belmont Abbey on Thursday, February 8, at 3:30 p.m.
