NORTH CANTON, Ohio - The Walsh Cavaliers men's lacrosse team rallied from a four-goal deficit in the third quarter and outscored the Molloy Lions 8-1 in the final 22 minutes of game action in the season opener at Vasco Field on Saturday (Feb. 22) afternoon. 

The Cavaliers defeated the Lions 13-10 as the final score, improving to 1-0 on the young season. 

Anthony Munoz started the scoring with a goal less than a minute in. Molloy gained a 2-1 lead with back-to-back goals over a three minute period. Preston Coffman tied the game at two with a goal one minute later. Just seconds later, Roman Smoot scored on an assist from Jake Cieszynski and Brent Mitchell found the goal four minutes after that, as Walsh led 4-2 with six minutes left in the first quarter. The Lions ended the frame on a 3-0 run as they scored three times in the final 5:14, taking a 5-4 lead after one period. 

Molloy scored the only goal in the second quarter with 12 minutes remaining as they extended the lead to 6-4 at the halftime intermission. 

The Lions added a goal 57 seconds into the third quarter, making it a three goal game. Coffman struck again, this time assisted by Kevin McMahon as the Cavaliers slimmed the lead to two. Molloy opened their largest lead of the day, 9-5 with back-to-back goals at the eight-minute mark of the third quarter. Trailing 9-5, the Cavaliers began to chip away at the lead that Molloy had built. Twenty seconds after the last Molloy goal, Marcus Brown began the rally with an unassisted goal, Gabe Brown followed on an assist from Smoot and Smoot scored three minutes later. Suddenly, the Cavs were down 9-8 with 4:11 left in the third period. Molloy created some distance but Mitchell ended the quarter with a man up goal, assisted by Smoot. Walsh trailed 10-9 going to the fourth quarter. 

Smoot carried the momentum into the fourth quarter as he quickly tied the game on a man up, assisted goal from Bradley. McMahon connected with Mitchell seven minutes later for the game-winning goal. Cieszynski (assisted by Smoot) and Mitchell added insurance goals in the final two minutes for the 13-10 comeback win. 

Smoot contributed on six goals in his first collegiate game with three goals and three assists. Mitchell gave the Cavaliers four goals on offense. Coffman added two goals and McMahon assisted on a pair of goals. 

Cieszynski led the Cavaliers with eight groundballs as the career leader in groundballs while Shane Profio and Andrew Singer each had six groundballs.

Patrick Cuddihy made 15 saves as he faced 25 shots in goal, earning the win. 

Walsh will host the Frostburg State Bobcats next Saturday (Feb. 29) at 2:00 PM on Vasco Field. 

-WC-