DANVILLE, Virginia - March 8, 2026 - Hiram men's lacrosse stormed back from a 5-0 deficit thanks to a dominant second quarter, which featured seven unanswered goals and an eventual 8-6 win over Averett University on Sunday afternoon.
Both Micky Morgan and Will Minggia scored three goals – five of which came in that second quarter run – while Michael Miles and Kellen Wetz each added a pair of assists. Issac Ray and Remi DeSmith had six ground balls each and goalkeeper Aidan Griffin earned his first win of the season behind five saves in a fourth quarter that saw the home team held scoreless.
The Terriers were all about resilience to open their seven-day stretch that includes four games across three different venues. The team trailed at the end of the first quarter, 5-0, but kept their composure with plenty of game time still remaining.
Beyond the five goals from Morgan and Minggia in the second quarter alone, Hiram set up those multiple scoring opportunities by consistently flipping the field. The team forced Averett into five turnovers and went a perfect 3-for-3 on clear attempts; in addition, Hiram gathered 15 ground balls during the period, a testament to the team's determination in maintaining possession and getting themselves back into the game.
Three of Hiram's goals during that span came on two extra-man opportunities, with Morgan scoring his first two man-up goals of the year and Wetz recording one of his own. Joey Cox also joined in on the scoring with his first collegiate goal, lifting the Terriers to a 7-5 lead at the intermission.
The teams traded goals in the third quarter, with Minggia becoming the first Hiram player this season to crack a double-digit tally of goals (10). Hiram led 8-6 and now was 15 minutes away from its first victory of the year.
Griffin and the Hiram defense were the difference-makers in the fourth quarter, as they fended off 10 shots during that span, five of which were on target. Averett called a timeout with 1:45 remaining to try and devise a plan to score two goals and even the score, but the Terriers stood firm to close it out in a convincing effort from the squad.
Hiram will look to replicate that success on Tuesday, when it travels to Lynchburg, VA for a non-conference battle with Randolph College at 4 p.m.
