NORTH CANTON, Ohio (March 23) – The Wheeling Jesuit University men's lacrosse team was handed an 18-8 loss at Walsh in both team's Great Midwest Athletic Conference opener.
 
The Cardinals fall to 1-7 overall, 0-1 in the Great Midwest. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers improve to 1-0 in league play, 1-6 overall this season.
 
Senior Jamison Smith (Butler, Pa./Butler) and freshman Connor O'Brien (New Albany, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) led the team in the loss with two goals apiece.
 
Wheeling Jesuit got off to a great start when they took 4-1 lead with 4:14 left in the first quarter following O'Brien's first goal of the game.
 
Walsh rallied with six-unanswered goals, before a man-down goal by freshman Colton Abate (Pittsburgh, Pa./Peters Township) and O'Brien's second goal tied the game back up a 6-6 with nine minutes to play in the first half.
 
After both teams traded goals to make the score 7-7, Walsh scored the game's next seven goals and held WJU scoreless in the third quarter to take a 14-7 lead with 13:15 to play in the fourth quarter.
 
A goal by Smith notched the Cardinals eighth goal of the game, but Wheeling Jesuit was unable to get any closer to the Cavaliers.
 
Walsh held a 21 to 7 advantage in faceoffs in the game.
 
Sophomore goalie PJ Campion (McLean, Va./McLean) made five saves in the loss.
 
The Cardinals will look to get back on track Wednesday, March 27 when they travel to Elkins, West Virginia to take on Davis & Elkins in a Great Midwest contest at 7 p.m.