MEMPHIS - On a hot, humid Friday evening in front of raucous crowd at Crain Field, six years of hard work, sacrifice, and building cumulated to the biggest win in the history of the Rhodes College men's lacrosse program.

The Lynx welcomed in perennial powerhouse Sewanee, an in-state rival and a team that has claimed either a SAA Regular Season or Tournament Championship every single season since the inception of the conference in 2012, for a game that would decide, not only a conference regular season champ, but who would host the SAA Championship in two weeks.

Rhodes held nothing back and put together a masterful showing, completely out playing Sewanee in a physical contest. As the clock struck zero, history was made as the Lynx claimed a share of their first ever regular season title as well as their first ever win over Sewanee, routing the Tigers to the tune of 12-6.

Sewanee had a tough shooting night despite out shooting the Lynx 43-29, but Rhodes held a 19-17 advantage in shots on target. Rhodes forced 25 Sewanee turnovers and picked up 35 ground balls. The Lynx man-down defense was excellent, holding Sewanee 1 of 7.

The Lynx struck first five minutes into the first quarter as sophomore John Tooher scored on a beautiful assist from sophomore David Perez. Sewanee answered with a goal later in the quarter before a Ryan Fennelly goal before the end of the period made it a 2-1 game.

The Rhodes defense, along with sophomore Cameron Link, forced Sewanee into tough shots while coming up with big turnovers and clutch saves to hold the lead. Junior Tommy Reingruber scored midway through the second quarter to make it a 3-1 game.

With time running out before halftime, freshman Addison Mueller made a brilliant run towards goal and found the back of the cage as time expired to take a 4-1 lead, and all of the momentum, into the break.

Being the great program they are, Sewanee had a response early in the second half, scoring two goals in less than two minutes to suddenly make it a 4-3 game. But Rhodes showed how great of a team they are as they responded with a four goal flurry to take control of the game.

The Lynx scored four goals in a four minute span as sophomore Matthew Simon got things started off an assist from Fennelly. Moments later, freshman James Margraff came away with a stunning turnover and turned it into instant offense on the other end to move ahead 6-3.

Reingruber and Fennelly followed it up with goals of their own as Rhodes suddenly took an 8-3 midway through the third. Sewanee got two back before the quarter to stay within distance as the game moved into the fourth.

The Lynx put the game away for good in the fourth, scoring three goals in the first four minutes on a pair of goals from freshman Ethan Garland as well as one from Fennelly. Sewanee got one back, but Rhodes closed it with an easy Tooher goal as the Lynx crowd erupted into a frenzy with the dominant 12-6 win.

Fennelly finished with five points including three goals and two assists while Garland, Tooher, and Reingruber had two points while sophomore Tyler Milwit had two assists. Margraff, Simon, and Mueller added goals while junior Justin Powers and Perez had an assist.

As great as the offense was, it was the defense that shined on this day as Margraff had three caused turnovers and five ground balls. Freshman J.J. Hoots had three caused turnovers while Tooher had two and five ground balls.

Simon, sophomore Henry Hasbrouck, and junior Steven Yowan each had two caused turnovers while seniors John Wancowicz and Mike Knudsen had one a piece, while Wancowicz adding four ground balls. Link finished with 11 saves in another astounding effort in the cage.

For Sewanee, it is their third loss ever in regular season conference play and their largest margin of defeat. If Rhodes defeats Centre on Sunday, it'll be the first time Sewanee will not claim at least a share of the regular season title. 

Rhodes can clinch the title outright on Senior Day as they welcome in the Colonels of Centre on Easter Sunday. Face off is scheduled for 1 PM with the Senior Day recognition scheduled to begin around 15 minutes before.