HIRAM, Oh. - The La Roche men's lacrosse team won their season opener against Hiram on the road in non-conference play Wednesday evening, 10-3. Tonight's victory marks the Redhawks first season opening win since 2011. LRU was 0-2 versus Hiram heading into tonight's contest. Tonight's victory is also Cody Golon's first as a collegiate head coach.
Three different Redhawks scored multiple goals, three freshmen had at least one point, and LRU allowed just three goals. LRU hasn't held a team to less than three goals since the 2011 season.
Final Score: La Roche 10, Hiram 3
Records: La Roche (1-0), Hiram (0-1)
How it Happened
Senior attack Brent Burkhouse scored the first goal of the season after fighting off a pair of Terrier defenders for the ball and then shooting with his left as he was running cross field. Austen Lunt followed up with another goal less than two minutes later to put the Redhawks up 2-0 with five minutes to play in the first.
Freshman Jordi Farr scored his first collegiate goal early in the second off an inbound's pass from Devin Wolford to make it 3-1. About a minute later, after a slashing roughness penalty on Hiram, Burkhouse scored his second goal of the game. He ran around the net, put a spin move on a defender and buried it close range. LRU lead 4-1 heading into halftime.
Junior Zach Opalko scored his first goal of the season off an assist from Devin Wolford shortly into the third after getting hit by a defender to put LRU up 5-1. Two minutes later, Jordi Farr caught a pass from Brent Burkhouse and scored his second goal of the night as he was running through Terrier traffic. LRU went up 6-1. Nathan Petrarco became the third freshmen in a row to score as he ran from the 50 yard line through the defense and scored. Austen Lunt became the third Redhawk with two goals in the game when he scored at the 2:38 mark in the third to put LRU up by seven.
Burkhouse notched the sixth hat trick of his career less than five minutes into the fourth when he scored his third goal of the game. Devin Wolford then notched his first goal of the game off an assist from freshman Isaiah Hubbard.
Inside The Box Score
Inside the net, Chris Sylvis stopped nine shots and allowed only three goals. The best goals allowed mark for an LRU goalie since 2011 and a career best for Sylvis. He also posted a career-high .750 save percentage.
The Redhawks defense caused 12 turnovers. Freshman Nathan Petrarco led the way in the category with five. Petrarco also led LRU with seven ground balls.
Devin Wolford had a game-high two assists and three total points.
Brent Burkhouse has scored three or more goals in four straight games dating back to last season.
Junior Zach Opalko went 7-15 on faceoffs.
Up Next
LRU men's lacrosse hosts Mt. Saint Joseph this Saturday for their home opener at 1:00 p.m.