LAX Wins Season Opener Against Thiel

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's lacrosse team opened the 2011 season with a 10-7 victory over Thiel College on Tuesday night in a game played on the campus of Wesleyan University.

Junior Adam Grillo netted a game-high four goals to pace the Mitchell attack while freshmen Shane Sullivan, Erik Vasquez and Demetre Lyras each recorded a pair of goals. Head coach Derek Marks, an East Lyme native and graduate of East Lyme High School, picked up his first collegiate win in his Mariners debut.

The Mariners fell behind 2-1 early in the second quarter before ripping off three straight scores to lead 4-2 at the half. Vasquez scored twice in the first half and also picked up an assist on the final goal of the stanza.

Mitchell pulled away in the third quarter, with Sullivan getting things started with a goal off a man-up opportunity just 90 seconds into the half. Lyras followed with his second goal of the game, and Sullivan later put the Mariners up 7-2 with his second of the period. Grillo then found the back of the net with 1:16 remaining in the quarter to give Mitchell an 8-3 lead heading into the final 15 minutes of play.

Grillo accounted for Mitchell's final two goals of the contest to stymie any hope of a Thiel comeback. Freshman goalie Peter Eshenfelder made 10 saves in his collegiate debut to seal the victory.

Thiel dropped to 1-3 overall on the season. The Tomcats were led by Andrew Shaver, who finished with three goals.

Mitchell will next play its home opener against Anna Maria College on Tuesday, March 15 at 4 p.m.