BELMONT, Calif.—The Westminster men's lacrosse team (1-0, 0-0 RMAC) got off to a winning start, defeating Notre Dame de Namur (1-2, 0-0), 22-27.  The Griffins led at halftime, 9-4, and outscored the Argonauts 13-3 in the second half.
 
"It was a solid start with a lot of balance to the offensive effort," head coach Mason Goodhand said.  "Good leadership, from seniors Conner McFarlane (Pleasanton, Calif / Foothill HS) and Troy Vance (Meridian, Idaho / Mountain View HS), helped the team settle in offensively and defensively."
 
Vance opened the scoring five minutes into the first period.  12 seconds after Vance's goal, Lane Kadish (Salt Lake City, Utah / Colby College) scored and opened his account as a Griffin.  Thomas Sarjeant (Carlesbad, Calif. / San Marcos HS) and Brad Belasco (Poway, Calif. / Poway HS) each added a goal to put Westminster up, 4-2, at the end of the first period.
 
Kadish scored his second goal of the game, 52 seconds into the second half, assisted by Sarjeant.  Kadish contributed two more goals in the second period, along with a goal from Bridger Fisher (Salt Lake City, Utah / Olympus HS) and Jacob Taylor (West Linn, Ore. / West Linn HS).  Westminster led by five, 9-4, at half time.
 
The Griffins gave up a pushing penalty, early in the third period.  Kadish scored his fifth, and final goal of the game, while the team was down a man.  Fisher scored three minutes later.  Nick Marcy (Portland, Ore. / Lincoln HS) scored with 6:30 remaining in the period, and added two more goals in less than two minutes.  Marcy finished the period with an assist to Blake Gross (Henderson, Nev. / Coronado HS), putting the Griffins up, 15-5.
 
Westminster outscored the Argonauts 7-2, with goals coming from Kolton Atkinson (Park City, Utah / Park City HS), Christian Pompoco (Park City, Utah / Dominican), Lane Gladden (Bend, Ore. / Sisters), Fisher, Sarjeant, and Gross.
 
The Griffins were the more aggressive team, giving up nine penalties to four, and three goals while down.  Goodhand was pleased with the aggressive play the team exhibited and said, I'll take that on the first day of the season.  The goal now is to keep the aggression but stay out of the box."
 
Westminster out-shot Notre Dame de Namur 44 to 26 with 30 shots on goal.  They won 15 face offs, 24 ground balls, caused 25 turnovers, and were 21-26 on clearances.
 
Fisher and Kadish led the team in points, with five.  Kadish scored five goals and Fisher scored four and tallied one assist.  Sarjeant and Gross each scored four goals and tallied two assists.  Marcy scored three goals and had one assist.
 
Marcy caused five turnovers, Chase Flinders (Park City, Utah / Park City HS) and Nye Harrison (Portland, Ore. / Oregon Epicopal School) each had three.  Robert Williams, Cole Flinders (Park City, Utah / Park City HS) and Eli Gaunt (West Linn, Ore / West Linn HS) each caused two.
 
McFarlane played 30 minutes in goal, recording five saves.  Phillip Cannell recorded a save in his 20 minutes.  Sean Edwards (Riverton, Utah / Juan Diego Catholic HS) played seven minutes and made two saves.
 
"We had a lot of new players cut their teeth today, Goodhand remarked.  "Kadish had a great day around the goal.  Freshman Chance Beutler ( Bend, Ore. / Bend Senior HS)showed he belongs, as did fellow freshmen Eli Gaunt and Kyle Williams."
 
Westminster wraps up the weekend playing Whittier College on Saturday, Feb. 17.