Centre men's lacrosse put on one of its finest defensive performances of the season for the second straight game, improving to 5-1 on the year and 2-0 in the Southern Athletic Association with a 12-4 victory over the Birmingham-Southern Panthers at Farris Stadium. HIGHLIGHTS - The defenses controlled the early part of the game. The first goal was not scored until seven minutes in, when Nic Malubay got the Colonels on the board first. From there, the BSC defense tightened and the Panthers offense went on its longest sustained run of the game, scoring three straight goals in a span of 90 seconds. - The Colonels clamped down defensively after the third BSC goal and kept up that defensive intensity for the rest of the game. Ridr Knowlton scored in the final minute of the first period to make it 3-2. - Centre dominated the second quarter in all facets. Will Hubbs scored to tie the score at 3-3. Malubay then played a role in each of the next two goals, scoring twice and assisting on a goal from Duncan MacDonald. - In the last minute of the half, Drew Greenblatt scored to put Centre up by four, but the Colonels still were not done, as with 0.5 seconds remaining, Padraic Dermody fired one into the corner of the cage to beat the buzzer and send the Colonels into the locker room up 8-3. - BSC scored the first goal of the third period, but that was as close as the Panthers got the rest of the way. With five minutes to go, Mick Ginnity scored to make it 9-4. Malubay scored one minute later for his fourth goal of the game. - The Colonels controlled possession in the fourth period as MacDonald and Chase Poplin scored in a 30-second span and Centre cruised to an eight-goal victory. INSIDE THE BOX SCORE - Malubay led all players with four goals and two assists for six points. His assist on MacDonald's goal in the second quarter marked career point no. 100. - The Colonels outshot the Panthers 46-30 and held a 31-19 advantage in ground balls, with Dylan Croft picking up a game high eight for the Colonels. - Croft went 13-20 on faceoffs for the game, including winning every faceoff in the fourth quarter for the Colonels. - Wills McCutcheon was once again outstanding in goal, posting a save percentage of .765 and recording a career high 13 saves. McCutcheon has now recorded double digit saves in four games. - The Centre defense held the Panthers to their lowest offensive output of the season. BSC entered today's game averaging over 12 goals per game. - Three of Centre's last four opponents have been held to four goals against the Colonels. NEXT UP Centre men's lacrosse will return to action on Apr. 4 as they welcome the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels to Farris Stadium.