Hawks remain atop conference standings, improve to 5-0 in USA South

MONTGOMERY, Ala.  – Huntingdon and Pfeiffer entered Saturday as the only two USA South Athletic Conference men's lacrosse teams unbeaten in conference play.

In a battle for first place in the USA South, Huntingdon took control late in the first half and knocked off Pfeiffer 18-7 on Senior Day.

With two regular-season conference games remaining, Huntingdon (9-6) leads the USA South with a 5-0 conference record and Pfeiffer (7-6) is second with a 4-1 conference record. Methodist (8-5) is third with a 3-2 record in the USA South.

Saturday's game was close for the first 20 minutes before Huntingdon put the game away with nine straight goals to close the first half and open the second half. Tied 3-3 with 9:42 left in the second quarter, the Hawks scored seven goals before halftime.

Seth Howe scored three goals and Zach Barnhill, Austen Saucier, Adrian Harper and Cole Foster each scored one goal during the stretch to make it a 10-3 game at the half. Huntingdon took a nine-goal lead with goals by Mac Puller and Adrian Harper to open the third quarter.

Pfeiffer pulled within seven goals, 12-5, in the third quarter before the Hawks extended their lead to 13 goals with six straight goals in the fourth quarter. The final three goals came in a span of 40 seconds.

Puller, Harper and Howe combined for 12 of the Hawks' goals in the game. Puller finished with five goals, Harper had four goals and Howe had three goals. Harper also had an assist and five ground balls.

Foster scored two goals, Barnhill had one goal, an assist and four ground balls and Saucier and Carmen Fuentes each had one goal and an assist. Brayden Puckett added one goal and Tyler Keiser had an assist, five caused turnovers and eight ground balls. Sam Hitt was 11-for-15 on faceoffs and picked up six ground balls and Raymond Edwards finished with five ground balls.

Goalie Matt Murphy had 15 saves and seven goals allowed in 60 minutes.

Records: Huntingdon (9-6, 5-0 USA South); Pfeiffer (7-6, 4-1 USA South)

Coming Up: Huntingdon returns to action on April 13 at Methodist at 2:30 p.m. (Central)