Limestone Goes Off, Molloy Upsets Pace in D-II Men's Opening Round

Limestone has no plans of going quietly into the night.

The Saints know their school has technically already closed — yet their final season will march on after a 28-10 drubbing of North Greenville in the first round of the NCAA Division II men's tournament on Wednesday.

Six players had hat tricks. led by a pair of standout performances by Zachary Terry (seven goals) and Carter Korzenski (three goals, five assists). Cory Lyons made 13 saves, showing that this was not just a full-on one-sided affair. The Limestone defense came to play, too.

Though, it is the offense that will catch the headlines here. North Greenville goalie Gabe Nelson was peppered with 43 shots, a sign that Limestone is plenty motivated to show the Division II world — for one last time — exactly what it is made of.

MOLLOY UPENDS PACE

Molloy is beginning to enjoy overtime after a 15-14 win over Pace.

Four days after topping Mercy in extra time to win the East Coast Conference tournament, the Lions kept their underdog story going by topping Pace, a team it has not beaten since 2009.

Tommy Corcoran scored the winner for the Lions, who nearly won it in regulation. But Pace forced overtime with a second left when Declan Landers finished a feed from Ryan Mimnaugh.

It was the final tally in a four-goal flurry that Pace used to tie things over the final 5:24, erasing a 14-10 deficit. 

Corcoran and Brian Green led Molloy with three goals apiece. The Lions spread it around, getting their 15 goals from nine players.

WINGATE BEATS 2024 RUNNER-UP

A team with high hopes for May has already had its hopes dashed.

Lenoir-Rhyne, the 2024 NCAA runner-up, fell to Wingate 17-16 on Vinny Butrico's clutch goal with a minute left in regulation.

The Bulldogs held what appeared to be a comfortable 16-12 lead with 5:47 remaining, but Lenoir-Rhyne rattled off four in a row, tying it on Nate Serrano's goal with 1:52 to play. Butrico, though, ended the run with his go-ahead goal, and Wingate won the ensuing faceoff to run out the clock.

ROUND 1 SCORES

North Region

(1) Adelphi 23, (8) Georgia Court 9
(2) Saint Anselm 17, (7) Bentley 12
(3) Seton Hill 15, (6) Wilmington 7
(5) Molloy 15, (4) Pace 14 (OT)

South Region

(1) Tampa 12, (8) Colorado Mesa 7
(2) Limestone 28, (7) North Greenville 10
(6) Maryville 16, (3) Anderson 10
(5) Wingate17, (4) Lenoir-Rhyne 16

QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

All games on Sunday, May 11, at 1 p.m. Eastern at higher seed

North Region

(1) Adelphi vs. (5) Molloy
(2) Saint Anselm vs (3) Seton Hill

South Region

(1) Tampa vs. (5) Wingate
(2) Limestone vs. (6) Maryville