MARIETTA, GA. -- Thursday afternoon the Malone University Men's lacrosse team took the field for the first time this year to begin the program's second season. 

The Pioneers traveled to take on the Savannah College of Art and Design Bees (SCAD). 

After a hard fought comeback, the Pioneers escaped with an 18-15 victory. 

THE ESSENTIALS

• Final Score: Malone University Pioneers 18 - Savannah College of Art and Design Bees 15
• Records: Malone (1-0, 0-0 G-MAC) SCAD (1-1, 0-0 TSC)
• Location: Marietta, Georgia | Kell High School

THE GAME
The Pioneers, loaded with 9 players making their program debut, struggled out the gate. The Bees came out hot with two quick goals to give SCAD a 2-0 lead at the 10:10 mark in the first quarter. Just a mere 9 seconds later, 5th year transfer Eli Ciotti scored his first program goal to cut the deficit to 1. The Bees fired out 3 more goals before a Ramsey Burnard missile left the Pioneers facing a 5-2 deficit after 1. 

Burnard looked to get the Pioneers back on track to start the second quarter as he quickly netted his 2nd goal, however the Bees answered with 2 more goals of their own, leaving the score at 7-3. A slashing call on SCAD allowed Malone to cut into the deficit as Burnard scored his third goal of the game, this was then followed by an electric goal via reigning G-MAC Freshman of the Year Zac Smargiasso to leave the score at 7-5 halfway through the quarter. Although SCAD was able to pocket 3 more goals in the half, Senior Nolan Winter, reigning First Team All-Conference member Talon Heath, and Smargiasso all found the mesh to bring the score to 10-8 at the half. 

Searching for answers at halftime, the Pioneers came out with a purpose in the second half.  Elite goalie play by Phillip Bell held the Bees to 1 goal in the third quarter. The offense found their stride as the Canadian cannon, Luke Ory, scored his first Pioneer goal. Winter, Smargiasso, and Burnard continued the onslaught to give the Pioneers a 13-11 lead after 3.

The hungry Pioneers paved the way to a victory as they held on in the fourth quarter to secure an 18-15 victory. 

DETAILS

• Seven different Pioneers scored goals, led by five from Ramsey Burnard and Zac Smargiasso. John Mautz III also secured his first Pioneer goal in the waning seconds to cap off the win. 
• Freshman Kamden Kraft led the team with 6 ground balls, followed by 4 from Brice Christmas and Ty McCort. McCort also impressed, winning 7 of 12 face-offs in his debut. 
• Wayne Keating helped anchor the Pioneers defensively with 3 caused turnovers.
• Phillip Bell finished with 13 saves and the W.

WHAT'S NEXT
Malone will continue the road trip at Shorter University on Saturday, February 10th. The start time from Rome, Georgia is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

FOLLOW THE PIONEERS
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Malone University athletic programs this year follow the Pioneers on Twitter and Instagram, like Malone University Athletics on Facebook or visit www.malonepioneers.com.