NORTON, Mass. -- A trio of players scored three goals for the Wheaton College (Mass.) men's lacrosse team in a 13-4 victory over visiting Anna Maria College this evening at Nordin Field on the campus of Wheaton in Norton, Mass. The Lyons improve to 1-0 in their season opener, while the AMCATS fall to 0-1.

The Wheaton defense did not allow a goal in the second and third quarters, while owning a 60-30 shot advantage. The Lyons dominated possession with a 41-21 ground ball advantage and were able to move the ball into their offensive zone with ease, converting 22 of 25 clear attempts. 

Junior attackman Max Cooper (Tolland, Conn.) tallied a career-high five points with three goals and a pair of assists to go with four ground balls for Wheaton, while senior attacker Lou Mainella (Falmouth, Maine) matched his personal-best with three goals to go with an assist and a ground ball. Junior attackman Shane Ross (Hanson, Mass.) also netted a career-best three goals in addition to an assist and three ground balls and a caused turnover. Sophomore defender Jacob Wharton (Worcester, Mass.) caused a game-high four turnovers to match senior defender Mike Conti (Old Bethpage, N.Y.). Wharton also scooped up four ground balls. Junior goalie Cory Bannon (Hopkinton, Mass.) stopped six of nine shots  in the opening 56:31 of play, before yielding to first year John Drew (North Andover, Mass.) for the final 3:29 that saw him turn away one of two shots.

Senior midfielder Eric Glover (Baldwinville, Mass.) led Anna Maria with three goals and added a ground ball, while sophomore attackman Ethan Quinn (Dudley, Mass.) netted a goal to go with a ground ball. First year midfielder Nathan Powers (Putney, Vt.) picked up four ground balls and caused a turnover. Graduate student goalie Griffin Moore (Worcester, Mass.) made 15 saves for the visitors.

Wheaton senior middie Mike Goodwin (Acton, Mass.) and Glover traded goals within the first three minutes to open the game. The Lyons closed out the quarter with six unanswered goals, including two each from Cooper and Mainella. Ross and Mainella netted the only goals of the second quarter with one apiece to give the Lyons a 9-1 lead at the intermission.

Ross and Cooper were the only players to put goals on the board with one each in the third quarter for the home team, while the Wheaton defense continued to hold the AMCATS scoreless since their early first quarter marker.

Anna Maria scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter to pull to within 11-3 with 9:59 to play in the game. Quinn scored 3:20 into the quarter to end a stretch of 45:28 that saw the Lyons defense keep their guests off the scoreboard. The Wheaton defense stepped up during the second quarter, including a 140-second stretch of man-up possession for AMC and a 71-second string with three Lyons all sitting in the penalty area. 

Wheaton scored two of the final three goals, including the first collegiate goal from first year attacker Ethan Powers (Braintree, Mass.) with 7:39 to play in the game. Senior attacker Nick Massaro (West Haven, Conn.) found Glover for the last score of the match with just 27 ticks left on the clock for the AMCATS to make it 13-4.

The Lyons return to action on Saturday, February 19 when they host University of New England at Nordin Field for a 12:00 p.m. contest, while Anna Maria hosts New England College on February 23 at 4:00 p.m.