SALT LAKE CITY – The Westminster men's lacrosse team returned to the win column with a 17-7 result against Adams State on Friday evening at Dumke Field in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
 
Westminster (7-2, 6-1 RMAC) moved one step closer to the regular season RMAC title with their second win of the season against Adams State (3-8, 2-4 RMAC). They can clinch at least a share of the title with a win over Colorado State University – Pueblo on Sunday.
 
Looking to respond to its first conference loss of the season, the Griffins got a goal from Josh Holland less than two minutes into play. The game was even at 2-2 with 5:35 remaining in the opening quarter when the home side scored four straight goals to lead 6-2 early in the second frame.
 
It was a 5-0 run by the Griffins that had the lead to 13-4 with 10:13 to play in the third quarter. That run began with a pair of man-down goals. Elias Fairman capped the day's scoring effort with a goal at the 1:36 mark of the fourth.
 
Fairman finished the game with a season-high four goals to lead the team. Holland and Thomas Sarjeant scored three goals each with Sarjeant adding four assists for his second seven-point game of the year. The Griffins got two goals from Cole Flinders and Troy Vance.
 
Westminster took 48 shots in the win and got 34 of them on cage. Holland and Fairman led the way with eight attempts each. They held Adams State to 23 shots with the Grizzlies getting 14 on goal.
 
The Griffins won 15 of 27 faceoffs and had a 29-23 edge in ground balls. They went 16 of 17 in clearing chances and score on 1 of 2 chances with the man-advantage. They held ASU to 19 of 23 clearing and forced 23 turnovers with nine caused turnovers.
 
Chase Flinders led Westminster with five ground balls and joined Tanner Duryea with two caused turnovers. Jake Berard and Kolton Atkinson had four ground balls apiece and Berard won 8 of 20 faceoff chances. Philip Cannell earned the win in cage with five saves while both Ian Sime – two saves – and Conner McFarlane saw time in goal.
 
Seth Stowell led Adams State with three goals on seven shots. Connor Johnson made 17 saves in defeat.
 
The Griffins regular season finale will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday. They will honor their senior class at halftime of the game with CSU-Pueblo. Tickets for the game are available now by visiting WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.