SALEM, MA – Saint Joseph's College (0-1) suffered an 11-6 setback at the hands of Salem State University (1-0) in a 2014 men's lacrosse season-opener on Saturday afternoon. Senior Andrew Hamill (Wolfeboro, N.H.) and junior Max Meserve (Kennebunk, Maine) netted two goals apiece in the losing effort.

Looking to get off to a good start for first-year Head Coach David Beriau, the Monks opened the scoring 2:13 into the 1st quarter when Hamill tallied an unassisted marker. Salem State answered with goals from Max Gansenberg (Beverly, Mass.) and Frank Lento (Salem, Mass.), but Hamill answered the call with his second score of the afternoon with 2:05 left in the first frame.

Alex Pearsons (Burlington, Mass.) regained the lead for the home team when he rocketed in a shot and put Salem State ahead on an assist from Gansenberg. Gansenberg added his own score to put Salem State up two goals before Jake O'Brien (Andover, Mass.) kept the Monks close with a goal on an assist from Dominic Cesarini (Bow, N.H.). Pearsons would score again to keep the Vikings on top 5-3 heading into the half.

Max Meserve (Kennebunk, Maine) netted the first goal of the second half for St. Joe's as the Monks pulled within a point at 5-4. However, Andy Rice (Weymouth, Mass.) and Ben Melaugh (Billerica, Mass.). scored back-to-back markers to put the Vikings in control 7-4.

In the fourth quarter Andrew Sullivan (Rochester, N.H.) pulled the Monks to within 7-5, but Pearsons notched his third goal on an assist from Lento and Salem State three more times to run away with an 11-6 victory.

Melaugh scored twice and added four assists, while Lento - a goal and four assists - and Gansenberg three goals and an assist, and Alex Pearsons (Burlington, Mass.) - three goals – helped lead a balanced Vikings' attack.

Vikings' goaltender Dylan Svenson (Billerica, Mass.) played the first half and had four saves to get the win while Dominic Rovetto (Newbury, Mass.) came in the second half and stopped eight shots. The Monks' Ethan Rettew (Ephrata, Pa.) and Jason Yasenchock (Rochester, N.H.) split time in net as Rettew allowed eight goals and made five saves to suffer the loss while Yasenchock had a save and allowed three goals.

With the loss, the Monks fall to 0-7 in the history of the series with Salem State. The Vikings have scored exactly 11 goals in each of the last three meetings with Saint Joseph's.

Both teams return to action hosting non-conference opponents on Wednesday afternoon. The Monks host Plymouth State College in a 4:30 PM start at Deering Memorial Stadium while the Vikings take on Mount Ida College at 3:30 PM that afternoon.

THANKS IN LARGE PART TO SALEM STATE SPORTS INFORMATION

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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.