MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Rhodes men's lacrosse team posted a big win to open the 2015 campaign against Southwestern University, 16-14.
 
The Lynx begin the season with an unblemished 1-0 record while the Pirates fall to 0-1 to begin 2015.
 
The contest proved to be a tough battle, with Southwestern pulling out to an early 2-0 lead. Rhodes Austin Bridgfoth put the first Lynx goal on the board at the five minute mark in the first quarter to pull to a 2-1 score. After another Pirates goal, the Lynx would tie things up at 3-3 to close the quarter with a pair of Ryan Fennelly goals.
 
It was all Lynx to open the second quarter, with MG Jadick netting the go ahead goal at the 13:02 mark. Fennelly got an early hat-trick, with a goal just 30 seconds later to make the count 5-3. By the 7:06 mark Bridgforth found the back of the cage for his second score, with Jason Lee connecting on an Owen Koorbusch assist just two minutes later for the 7-3 lead.
 
Southwestern netted another goal, but Koorbusch nabbed his own score to close the half and give Rhodes an 8-4 lead heading into the break.
 
The Pirates came out of the half with a vengeance, scoring six unanswered goals to regain the lead at 10-8.  Fennelly finally produced a Lynx answer as the third quarter drew to a close, and pulled the Lynx within one at 10-9.
 
In the fourth quarter Rhodes found a spark and scored five straight, including scores from Koorbusch, two Fennelly goals, and two Lee scores for a 14-10 lead. The Pirates netted three goals to pull to within one at 14-13 with 6:09 to play.
 
A pair of Fennelly goals to close the contest sealed the deal for the Lynx, as they brought home the 16-14 win.
 
In the contest, Rhodes outshot their counterparts, 43-35 but was narrowly outmatched in ground ball pick-ups at 28-27. The Lynx won the faceoff battle, 18-13.
 
Thomas Matthews got the start in the cage for the Lynx, and in 45 minutes of play, picked up five saves. Bridgeforth also saw time in goal, with 15 minutes as the Lynx net minder, where he grabbed two saves.
 
Rhodes will be back in action on Feb. 15 when they host Carthage College.