LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Westminster men's lacrosse team split two games at the season opening MCLA Full House Face Off over the weekend. The season began with a 14-13 loss in double overtime against No. 16 UC-Santa Cruz on Friday, February 19. The next day, No. 8 Westminster bounced back to defeat No. 19 Western Washington 14-7 in the consolation bracket.

Against Santa Cruz the Griffins scored eight times in the opening half and carried an 8-4 advantage into the intermission. Santa Cruz then scored five straight goals in the third quarter to lead 9-8 entering the fourth quarter. Gian Sexsmith scored for the Griffins with 32 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 13 and force overtime. Max Maisel then struck for Santa Cruz with 1:32 remaining in the second overtime with his team a man-up to win the game.

Hayden Dixon scored three goals on eight shots in the game for Westminster. Josh Condas and Jake Arthur tallied two goals apiece with Condas adding one assist. Roman Schoewe had three points behind one goal and two assists. Dallas McLellan made 20 saves between the pipes.

Against Western Washington, the Griffins built a 9-5 advantage in the opening half and then carried that into a 14-7 victory. Westminster took control of the game during the second half with a five-goal run over the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarters to turn a 6-5 lead into an 11-5 cushion. The Griffins outshot Western Washington 51-35 in the game and claimed 30 groundballs to just 23 by the opposition.

Condas led the Westminster attack with seven goals while taking 10 shots. Arthur posted another four goals with Schoewe contributing three scores. Jacob Wayman recorded five assists. Chris Baer and Benjamin Wright had five ground balls apiece. Jos Illya made 17 saves in his first appearance of the season.

Arthur was the Griffins lone representative on the All-Tournament Team, making the squad at midfield. For a complete recap of the tournament visit www.fullhouselax.com.