Statistics
David Bates Photo Gallery

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Tiger Hopkins scored with 10 seconds remaining to give the Saint Joseph's College Monks an 8-7 season-opening victory over the University of New England in non-conference men's lacrosse action Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 21) at Blue Bolt Field.

The win was the first-ever for the Monks over UNE after the Nor'easters had won the previous seven meetings between the two squads.

Following a timeout with 30 seconds on the clock, the Monks worked the ball around to Hopkins, who had set up behind the cage. Hopkins carried possession to the left of UNE goalkeeper Evan Hazard and skipped a shot just inside the right post from 15 yards out.

The Monks had trailed 7-6 after three quarters but tied the game on a tally by Matt Denman with 6:16 on the clock.

Will Levesque had a game-high three goals to pace the St. Joe's attack. Tim Goodfellow, Matt Denman, Nathan Girardin and Xavier Michaud joined Hopkins in the scoring column with a marker apiece.

UNE's offense was led by Sam McGregor and Stephen Fogarty, who each scored twice. Shea Fogarty, Collin Jackson and Andrew Lawrence added a goal apiece.

Ben Gowell won more than half of his faceoffs (10 of 18) and scooped up five ground balls for the Nor'easters. Shea Fogarty matched Gowell with five ground balls, while Lawrence contributed four. August Hand finished with three caused turnovers. 

Starting goalkeeper Liam Greene had four saves for St. Joe's before giving way to Reed Wescott, who allowed just one goal and stopped six shots after halftime to register the win between the pipes.

For UNE (0-2), which hosts Plymouth State University on Sunday (Feb. 25), Hazard was credited with 15 saves.