SPARKS, M.D. – Felician men's lacrosse kicked off their 2024 campaign at USA Lacrosse in Sparks, M.D. to host Davis and Elkins College Sunday morning.

In the 15-8 victory, senior defender, Matthew Branco (Saddle Brook, N.J.) reached the 100-groundball career milestone when he picked up four while causing four turnovers. Freshman, Jayden Rios (Stony Point, N.Y.), is sitting second all-time with 17 ground balls in the game.

Here's What Happened:

• The Golden Falcons were up 2-0 swiftly on goals by Ethan Todner (Plainfield, N.J.) and Liam Dunn (Murfreesboro, T.N.). The Senators netted a goal themselves to slash the Felician lead to one, but Jabes Escalante (Chelsea, M.A.) and Rios piled on two more in less than a minute to lead 4-1.
• By the end of the first period, Felician saw a five-goal lead, 7-2, to be only shut out in the second as Davis and Elkins caged the five equalizing goals at the halfway point.
• After the Golden Falcon cold streak prior to the half, Todner shattered the ice with another goal in his debut to shift the contest's momentum into Felician's hands. The Senators were next up to be held to zero goals in a period, 12-7.
• The opposers would find the back of the net one more time, 12-8, in the beginning of the fourth, but once again Felician toppled the squad with three goals by Luke Dayton (Haddon Township, N.J.), Rios, and Dunn, for the 15-8 opening day victory.

Box Score Insights:

• Freshmen duo, Todner and Rios, posted a hat trick to lead the Golden Falcons in their opening debut. Rios controlled the faceoffs for the squad going 18-22 for 17 ground balls to sit second all time in Most Ground Balls in a Game. Dunn joins the pain with three goals as well.
• Finn Crocker (South Hamilton, M.A.) and Escelante had two goals apiece while Dayon and Connor Langdon (Shirley, N.Y.) netted one.
• Nick Grebe (Farmingville, N.Y.) captured his first win of the season with 14 saves.

Men's Lacrosse (1-0) will be back in action on Saturday at Southern New Hampshire University at 12:00pm.