ST. LOUIS, MO. - The Walsh Cavaliers men's lacrosse team opened the 2019 regular season with a non-conference game at Maryville on Saturday (Feb. 16) afternoon.  

The Cavaliers fell 16-7 to the Saints in the season opener.  

Maryville scored two goals in the first two minutes, taking a 2-0 lead. Brent Mitchell cut the lead to one with an unassisted goal five minutes into the game. The Saints added two more goals in the remainder of the quarter, leading 4-1 after one quarter.  

The Saints began the second quarter with two straight goals before Walsh answered with back-to-back goals of their own. Jake Cieszynski found the back of the net on an unassisted goal before Kevin McMahon scores on an assist from Brydan Heisler. Walsh trailed 6-3 with less than ten minutes left in the first half. Maryville ended the half with three more goals as they took a 9-3 lead into the halftime break.  

In the third quarter with eight minutes left, Brian Apshago took advantage of a Saints penalty as he scored a man-up goal, assisted by Maurice Kelly. The Saints finished the quarter with two goals, holding an 11-4 lead after three frames. 

Maryville scored five goals in the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter for a 16-4 lead. Walsh tallied three straight goals in the final two minutes, closing the gap to 16-7. Apshago and Kelly combined for the first goal, before Cieszynski scored just seconds later. Preston Coffman closed the scoring with a man-up goal, assisted by Evan Bradley.  

Cieszynski had two goals along with nine groundballs as he won 13-of-23 faceoffs in the game. Apshago tallied two goals in his collegiate debut for the Cavaliers with two groundballs. Kelly assisted on two goals while Bradley and Heisler each had one assist. Tyler Stowell and Jake Selvage had three groundballs and caused turnovers, respectively.  

Patrick Cuddihy made 13 saves in goal and picked up four groundballs.   

The Cavaliers will face Lindenwood on Monday (Feb. 18) at 4:00 PM.   

-WC-