HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—Westminster men's lacrosse team defeated the University of Alabama in Huntsville to begin the 2021 season 2-0. Spencer Whinery and Gabe Mein both recorded five points in the Griffins (2-0, 0-0 RMAC) win.
 
Westminster went up 2-0 through a pair of goals by Merritt McMahon. The Chargers pulled one back before Will Dutton and Mein scored for a three point-lead with six minutes left in the first period. The Chargers tied the game with three in a row to finish the period.
 
UAH took a one-point lead, 6-5, at half and increased it by one goal at the end of the third, 9-7.
 
Goals from Andoni Odencrantz, Quinn Lewis and Whinery tied the game at 10 with four minutes left. Whinery gave the Griffins the lead, 11-10 with a little over two minutes left. The Chargers took three shots in the final 30 seconds but missed twice and was saved by Gavin Beilman on the final shot of the game.
 
Westminster out shot the Chargers 35 to 29, picked up 32 ground balls to UAH's 19 and won 17 of the 24 face offs.
 
Whinery notched his first hat-trick of the season and led the team with four goals. Mein led the team with four assists. Eli Gaunt led the team with four ground balls and went 16-21 on faceoffs. Chance Beutler led the team with four caused turnovers and Beilman made five saves.
 
Luke Levette led the Chargers with three goals and Zak Welsh made 12 saves between the pipes.
 
The Griffins play the University of Utah on Mar. 13 at 1 pm.