SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—The Westminster men's lacrosse (3-6, 1-0 RMAC) team defeated Colorado Mesa (5-5, 0-1 RMAC), 14-8, for the first time since 2016. The teams have met a total of 10 times with the Griffins improving to 2-8 over the Mavericks with tonight's win.
 
The visitors were aggressive offensively and out shot Westminster 42-35, but Westminster put 22 of its shots on goals compared to the Mavericks with only 15 on goal.
 
The Mavericks scored first for their only lead of the game.  Just short of 10 minutes into the first period, Spencer Whinery took a pass from Easton Albert to tie the game, 1-1.  Westminster finished the period with the lead after scoring three goals, two man-up, in the final three minutes.
 
Blake Gross scored in the second period and finished a 5-0 run to give the Griffins a four-point lead.  Westminster finished the half up by two, 5-3, after CMU scored twice.
 
The Griffins opened the third period with goals from Gross, Harrison Nye and Chance Beutler.  CMU scored twice but goals from Will Dutton, Jacob Taylor and Dylan Brauer each scored and the Griffins finished the period with a six goal lead, 12-6.
 
The teams played to a draw in the third period.  The Mavericks score goals early but Westminster responded with three consecutive and finished for the 14-8 win.
 
"It was a great all around effort," Head Coach Mason Goodhand said.  "We fought hard on every loose ball and the defense was almost impossible to get inside.  Our goalie play was solid."
 
"We had a nice balance of transition and settled offense.  We were unselfish and saw nine different players score and seven assists made."
 
Nick Marcy recorded four assists and continued his role as provider.  Albert, Beutler and Whinery each tallied an assist to complete the team's total at seven.
 
Kolton Atkinson led the team with a hat trick.  Brauer, Gross and Whinery each scored a pair of goals.  Beutler, Nye, ­Taylor, Dutton and Cole Flinders each scored a goal.
 
Sean Edwards made seven saves to earn his third win in the cage.  He also picked up nine ground balls to lead the team.
 
Westminster caused 13 turnovers, five more than the visitors.  Chase Flinders led the team with four and Peter Lillehaug caused three.  Beutler and Nye each caused two turnovers.  Daniel Lier and Grant Phillips each caused one a piece.
 
The Griffins play at home against Adams State next Friday (Apr. 12) and CSU-Pueblo on Sunday (Apr. 14).