ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Quincy University Men's Lacrosse played its opening match of the season as a neutral site contest hosted at Lewis University against the Lake Erie College Storm. The Hawks offensive unit was firing on all cylinders scoring the most goals in the program's history in an 18-15 victory over Storm.

QU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals from Christian Czarny and Donald Griffith. Lake Erie responded a minute later with a goal of their own, followed by another four minutes later to knot the score at 2-2 with 7:38 left in the first.

Down a man, the Hawks surrendered another goal at the 6:07 mark to fall behind a score at 3-2. Czarny found the back of the net once again off a feed from Grayson Kuan to even the score 3-3. A goal from LEC and another for QU by Jayme Brain ended the first quarter in a 4-4 draw.

Storm opened the scoring in the second frame with a goal in at the 13:26 minute mark. After a five-minute cease of scoring Quincy erupted for three straight goals, one from Nick Woodworth and two more for Griffith to lead 7-5 at 4:54 in the second. Lake Erie scored two more in the final four minutes to take the match to halftime all square at 7-7

The Hawks struck first in the highest scoring quarter of the match on a goal from Blaine Lowrance. LEC tied it up half a minute later at 8-8. Quincy got goals from Griffith and Lowrance to take a 10-8 advantage.

After surrendering another goal, QU widened their lead to four at 13-9 on goals from Brain, Griffith and Mason Marano. Holding Storm scoreless for eight straight minutes, they finally broke through the Hawk defensive unit for two quick scores in the final 26 seconds to slim the lead to 13-11 going into the final frame.

Quincy stomped on the gas to open the fourth, netting three goals from Lowrance, Brain and Czarny to push their lead to five at 16-11 with 10:29 to play. Lake Erie responded with two goals of their own to draw within three at 16-13 with just under nine minutes remaining. Storm never drew closer than three for the remainder of the contest as the Hawks sealed their first victory of the season 18-15.

The Hawks will be back in action again on Tuesday (Feb. 14) for a 6:00 p.m. home contest at QU Stadium against the Hawks of Rockhurst University.

Notable Performances
Donald Griffith: 5 Goals, 2 Assists, 7 Points
Christian Czarny: 4 Goals, 4 Points, 1 Ground Ball
Mason Marano: 1 Goal, 3 Assists, 4 Points, 3 Ground Balls
Blaine Lowrance: 3 Goals, 1 Ground Ball
Ryan Riggs: 16 Saves