SALT LAKE CITY – The Westminster men's lacrosse team opened the 2017 season with a 14-13 upset of No. 18 Rockhurst on Saturday afternoon at Dumke Field.
 
Westminster (1-0, 1-0 RMAC) trailed for most of the opening three quarters and then found the game-winner with 38 seconds to play. Jake Berard capped his five-goal effort with a shot that bounced off the pipe and went in to snap the game's fifth tie and secure the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory.

It was Rockhurst (5-1, 1-1 RMAC) that took control early with the opening three goals of the contest. The Griffins tied the game at 3-3, but the Hawks answered with three more goals and held the lead into the fourth quarter.
 

MLAX | Jake Berard's 5th of the day is a winner for the @GriffinLax #WCGriffins #RMACmlax pic.twitter.com/d3Oj3gFgZv

— Westminster Griffins (@wc_griffins) March 4, 2017

Berard scored the first goal of the fourth quarter to even the game at 10-10 and then Cole Flinders scored to give the Griffins their first lead at 11-10 with 11:12 to play. The teams would then trade goals over the next 10 minutes to setup the Berard winner.
 
Entering the game, the senior Berard has scored just seven goals the past two seasons playing primarily as a faceoff specialist. He ended Saturday with five goals on eight shots – six on goal – and the game-winner.
 
Westminster only took 29 shots as a team, but they got 22 of those on cage. They went 15 of 20 in clearing chances and scored on one of their two man-up opportunities. Rockhurst took 47 shots with 27 on target and won 19 of 30 faceoffs.
 

The Griffins got solid net minding from Conner McFarlane as the junior came up with 14 saves and posted a .517 save percentage. He earned his first win in goal since the 2015 season.
 
Nick Marcy had a big day for the Griffins in his collegiate debut. The freshman tallied three goals – including the team's first two of the game – and distributed two assists for a five-point afternoon. Marcy attempted four shots with three on goal and picked up four ground balls.  Cole Flinders added two goals.
 
Rockhurst got 19 wins on 28 attempts at X from Zach Bodeau. Michale Beckham led the Hawks with three goals.
 
Westminster will now head out on a four-game road trip that starts at No. 15 Saint Leo on March 11 in Saint Leo, Fla.