WATERBURY, Conn. – The Post University men's lacrosse team drops its season-opener to Chestnut Hill 17-8 on Saturday afternoon at LaMoy Field. Junior Frank Nichols Jr. (Oceanside, Calif.) and freshman Mitchell Kinney (Hemlock, N.Y.) each scored twice in the loss.
 
Down 1-0 in the first quarter, freshman Ben Price (Eden Prairie, Minn.) forced a turnover soon after the faceoff. The Eagles wasted no time on offense as senior Luke McDermott (New Milford, Conn.) quickly found Nichols to tie the game 1-1.
 
Nichols put Post in front 2-1 with 7:37 left in the first quarter on an assist by senior Alsharif Blackman (Easton, Pa.), but Chestnut Hill answered to tie the game once again.
 
Price came up huge on defense again late in the quarter, forcing another turnover at midfield and hit Kinney in transition to put the Eagles ahead 3-2. Alec Dambach scored for the Griffins with just over a minute left to make the score 3-3 after one.
 
The Eagles outshot Chestnut Hill 11-10 in the second quarter, but were unable beat the keeper as the Griffins scored five times to take control of the game at 8-3 heading into the half.
 
Junior Kyle Hewlett (Bridgeport, Conn.) scored to start the third quarter and cut the deficit just four. The Eagles would never be able to pull closer.
 
A two-man advantage for Post in the fourth quarter led to goals by Kinney and senior Trevor Buchas (Bristol, Conn.) to make the score 13-7.
 
Post was outshot 47-34 on the day and 31-25 on goal. Junior goalkeeper Shane Trost (Rochester, N.Y.) made 14 saves in his first-career start. Blackman picked up a team-high seven groundballs. Senior Jack Kearney (Sandy Hook, Conn.) added a goal, three groundballs, and four caused turnovers.
 
The Eagles return on Wednesday, March 1 on the road at American International in Springfield, Mass. Face-off is set for 4 p.m.