RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Chestnut Hill College recorded the game's first five goals and went on to a 20-9 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference men's lacrosse victory over host Felician University on Friday afternoon at Tryon Field.

Felician (5-5, 1-2 CACC) received a record-setting performance from redshirt junior faceoff man Tajae McLean-Byrd (Bronx, N.Y./Mount St. Michael Academy). He took all 33 faceoffs on the day and won 25, both breaking his own Golden Falcon single-game records. McLean-Byrd also surpassed his single-season Felician standard for wins from the 'X,' now with 157. He had 135 as a true freshman in 2019.

McLean-Byrd matched another of his own Golden Falcon records with 19 ground balls, tying the fourth-highest total in an NCAA Division II game this season.

Sophomore attackman Robert Grasso (Islip, N.Y./Islip) paced the Felician offense with five goals and an assist. Chestnut Hill freshman midfielder Liam McCann (Edmonton, Alberta/Vimy Ridge Academy) turned in a strong two-way effort with six goals, two assists, five ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Five different scorers found the cage for the Griffins (5-5, 1-0) during the game's first 10 minutes as the visitors took control early. Grasso allowed Felician to light the scoreboard with 3:52 left in the first period, but Felician trailed, 7-1, at period's end. CHC tallied the final three goals of the second quarter for a 10-3 halftime edge.

The Griffins put the game away during the middle stages of the third period, scoring four times in a stretch of 3 ½ minute to open its largest lead of the day, 16-5. Felician was unable to leverage the consistent possessions gained by McLean-Byrd, committing 34 turnovers.

Freshman Finn Crocker (South Hamilton, Mass./Beverly) scored twice for Felician, and classmate Liam Dunn (Murfreesboro, Tenn./Waterford Kettering [Mich.]) paced the defense with six ground balls and two caused turnovers. Golden Falcon freshman goalkeeper Nick Grebe (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem East) made 15 saves with three ground balls in 52 minutes.

Chestnut Hill outshot the Golden Falcons, 50-27. Griffin senior Maurice Kelly (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta/Vimy Ridge Academy) collected four goals and an assist.

McLean-Byrd also had 19 ground balls during an Apr. 13, 2021, victory at Post University. His previous record of 23 faceoff wins came in the same game.

Felician travels to Newark, Del., for a CACC contest against Wilmington University on Wed., Apr. 6, at 4 p.m.