DANVILLE, Va.— In the second annual Team Molly game, the Averett University men's lacrosse team dropped a conference game to Methodist University, 12-6, on Saturday afternoon on Daly Field at Frank R. Campbell Stadium.

After Methodist (7-5, 2-2 USA South) scored the opening goal, Averett (1-9, 0-4 USA South) answered with a goal from freshman Mason Foy off an assist from sophomore Joonas Mattila. The goal was Foy's team-leading 10th of the season and marked the sixth straight game where he's scored at least one goal.

The Monarchs responded by scoring six more goals to end the first half with a 7-2 lead, with Mattila logging the Cougars' other goal in the first half. Both teams scored two goals in the third quarter, with Mattila and freshman Ballard Earley each scoring for Averett to make it a 9-4 game heading into the fourth quarter. The Cougars remained competitive, with freshmen Parker Corbett and Tyler Moodie getting on the scoreboard in the fourth, but couldn't complete the comeback from there.

Mattila led the team with two goals, one assist, eight shots, three shots on goal and three caused turnovers on the day, while adding five ground balls. Defensively, freshman Sam Garrett led the team with seven ground balls and added two caused turnovers, while freshman Marques Fleming added four ground balls. In goal, sophomore Jacob Shriver made 15 saves.

On the plus side for Averett, the Cougars have scored six or more goals in four of the last five games, the first of which was a seven-goal outing in the team's first win in program history, coming against the Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Averett returns to action on April 7 when it hits the road to take on another conference opponent in William Peace University, scheduled for 5 p.m.