PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Senior attackman Lou Mainella (Falmouth, Maine) netted three goals and added an assist to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) men's lacrosse team over host Johnson & Wales University, 12-7, this afternoon at Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex in Providence, R.I. The Lyons improve to a perfect 5-0 for the best start in school history, while the Wildcats fall to 2-2.

Wheaton was able to get into its offensive set all afternoon with a perfect 22-22 mark in clearing the ball into its offensive zone, despite Johnson & Wales owning a 22-7 face-off advantage. The Lyons played an extremely discpinled brand of ball, committing just three penalties, while converting on two of six man-up situations of their own.

Mainella was one of four Wheaton players with multiple scores. Senior midfielder Alex Berg (Southport, Conn.), senior attacker Alec Morin (Belmont, Mass.) and senior middie Mike Goodwin (Acton, Mass.) all tallied a pair of goals for the Lyons. Berg and Goodwin also picked up a ground ball each. Sophomore defender Jacob Wharton (Worcester, Mass.) led the Wheaton defense with a career and game-high five caused turnovers to go with three ground balls, while senior defender Brennan McIntyre (Bourne, Mass.) picked up four ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers. Junior goalie Cory Bannon (Hopkinton, Mass.) stopped one of four shots in the first 22:30 of action, before first year netminder John Drew (North Andover, Mass.) played the final 37:30 and turned away seven of 11 shots for the Lyons.

Senior attackman Tyler Drago (Wakefield, Mass.) paced the Wildcats' offense with two goals and an assist, while first year midfielder Donny McInnis (North Haven, Conn.) and senior middie Joe McIntyre (Ballston Lake, N.Y) each netted a pair of goals. Junior defender Mike Catuosco (Commack, N.Y.) dominated the face-off for JWU, winning 15 of 22 draws, while picking up a game-high 15 ground balls. First year defender Andrew Carroll (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) also contributed with two ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers. First year goalie Chris April (Mansfield, Mass.) made 12 saves for the Wildcats.

Wheaton never trailed in the game and opened the contest with three of the first four goals and closed out the day with four of the final five scores.

The match was scoreless midway through the first quarter until Morin broke through for the Lyons with 7:31 showing in the opening period. Berg and Goodwin followed with single goals, sandwiched around an advantage goal from Drago for JWU to give Wheaton a 3-1 lead after one quarter of action.

Mainella set up junior attackman Robert Sullivan (Newton, Mass.) for Wheaton's fourth goal at the 12:15 mark of the second quarter to give the visitors a 4-1 margin. Drago and senior midfielder Mike Muench (Maplewood, N.J.) followed with a goal apiece to pull the Wildcats to within 4-3 with 7:32 to play in the half. Mainella gave the Lyons some breathing room before the intermission with a goal coming with 2:15 to go in the second quarter for a 5-3 margin.

Wheaton scored three times in the third quarter with goals from Berg, first year midfielder Mike McLaughlin (Stoughton, Mass.) and Goodwin, while McIntyre found the back of the net twice for the home team as the teams headed to the final quarter with the Lyons holding an 8-5 lead.

McInnis scored just 23 ticks into the final period to bring JWU to within two goals at 8-6, but Wheaton put the game away with four unanswered goals, including two from Mainella, to take a 12-6 advantage with 3:37 remaining in the contest. McInnis scored 20 seconds after Mainella to cut the deficit to 12-7, but it was the last marker of the day for either team.

The Lyons return to action on Wednesday, March 9 when they host Curry College at 5:00 p.m., while the Wildcats head to Newburgh, N.Y. to take on Mount Saint Mary College on March 12 at 1:00 p.m.