WINGATE, NC -- The top-seeded Mars Hill College Lions defeated fourth-seeded Catawba College 9-8 in semifinal action in the Deep South Conference Tournament on Friday afternoon at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. The Lions improve to 11-3 overall and advance to the championship game Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. The Catawba Indians fall to 3-8.

Sophomore Eric Benesch led the Mars Hill attack with four goals. Danny Farmer added two goals for the Lions. Mike Dolesh (Aquasco, MD/St. Mary's Ryken HS) led the Catawba Indians with three goals. Braden Artem (Acton, Ont, CANADA/Christ the King HS) added two goals, while Marty Tuohy (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth HS) had a goal and two assists for the Catawba Indians.

Farmer got the scoring started at the 12:50 mark. Catawba's Walter McDonough (Wilmington, NC/Laney HS) answered less than two minutes later to tie the game at one. The teams would continue to trade goals until Mars Hill posted back-to-back goals by Kevin Woods and David Hodgins for a 5-3 Lion edge at the 6:54 mark of the second quarter.

Dolesh answered with a goal 47 seconds later to cut the lead to one. Farmer scored with 2:25 remaining in the half to give the Lions a 6-4 lead, but Dolesh once again had the answer, scoring 1:16 before halftime to make it 6-5 going into intermission. The Catawba Indians scored the first two goals of the second half. Artem tied the game at the 7:20 mark. C.J. Dunshie (Apex, NC/SE Raliegh HS) gave Catawba its first lead of the game at the 5:06 mark, making it 7-6.

The Lions tied the game 26 seconds into the fourth, on a goal from Benesch. He would add two more goals in a 25-second span to give Mars Hill a 9-7 lead. Catawba cut the lead to one on a goal from Tuohy at the 2:20 mark and Tuohy had a pair of shots in the final minute to tie the game, but both were saved by Lion goalie Nick Sigona.

Mars Hill held a 42-25 advantage in shots, including a 22-15 edge in shots on goal. The Lions also held a decisive 49-22 advantage in ground balls. Sigona had seven saves on the afternoon. Colin McClimans (Washington, DC/The Maret School) racked up 13 saves for Catawba.

2009-04-18