PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- The Sacred Heart University men's lacrosse team was on the road to start the season against nationally ranked #13/15 Saint Joseph's University on Saturday afternoon. Sal Miccio and Jake Ward scored a pair of goals each as the Pioneers fell in the opener 17-5. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 0-1
Saint Joseph's: 1-0 

Top Performers:
Sal Miccio: 2 goals
Jake Ward: 2 goals
Carson Spooner: 1 goal, 1 assist

Goalkeepers:
Alex Pazienza:  14 saves
Nicky LaBanca: 1 save

Of Note:
Saint Joseph's scored the first two goals of the game to take a 2-0 lead. Spooner found Miccio to put away the first goal of the season for the Pioneers at 3:11, to cut the deficit 2-1. The Hawks answered with one more tally to take a 3-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Hawks opened the second quarter with back-to-back goals just 36 seconds apart, extending their lead to 5-1. Ward scored his first of the season at 8:53, but SJU answered with another one for the Hawks at 8:17. Spooner and Ward were able to score two straight goals for SHU to bring the Pioneers within two, 6-4. Saint Joseph's put away one more to close out the second quarter with a 7-4 advantage.

Miccio scored his second of the day to kick things off in the third quarter as SHU would cut their deficit to two, 7-5. The Hawks would go on to score 10 unanswered goals throughout the final two quarters to take the 17-5 final.

Up Next:
Sacred Heart is back in action next Saturday, February 18th, on the road at Lafayette at 4:00 PM.