Williamsburg, KY – The third-ranked UC men's lacrosse team needed just nine second to score their first goal of the season as part of a seven goal opening period as the Patriots defeated William Penn 18-7 Friday night at the UC Lacrosse Complex.  With the win UC improves to 7-1 all-time in season openers and have won five straight. 

The Patriots had strong performances on both side of the ball led by the UC staring attack that combined for 12 goals and 16 points.  Tanner Popovich and newcomer Will Rogers each finished with four goals and two assists, while Christian Vanover also netted four goals in the win.  Dom Lulow notched a goal and an assist in the game as Noah Brandt tallied two assists. 

Michael Toohey earned the win in the cage with 15 saves and four ground balls.  The 15 saves were the second most in Toohey's career and his first double-digit save performance since the 2021 NAIA National Invitational.  Nik Kubik went 13-22 on faceoffs with four ground balls, while Chrystian Coleman and Taylor Long notched two caused turnovers and scooped five ground balls apiece. 

Kubik won the opening face-off of the game, raced up field and put a well-placed shot into the cage making it 1-0 nine seconds in.  Dawson Coltran added a goal before UC took advantage of a Statesmen penalty as Popovich connected with Vanover for the man-up goal making it 3-0 midway through the first quarter.  Making his collegiate debut, Rogers netted two of the Patriots next four goals, the final of which came with 26 second remaining to give UC a 7-0 lead.

The Patriots won the opening faceoff of the second quarter and on the ensuing possession Popovich dodged towards the crease and fired a shot into the upper right corner for the goal, extending the lead to 8-0 25 seconds into the period.  After being limited to two shots in the first quarter, William Penn became the aggressor in the second period, however, Toohey made four saves in the first six minutes keeping the Statesmen off the board.  William Penn eventually netted three unanswered goals, before Popovich completed his first half hattrick giving Uc a 9-3 advantage with 1:06 remaining.  20 seconds later, Cumberlands took advantage of a penalty as Rogers found Lulow for the man-up goal as UC took a 10-4 lead into half.

For the third time in three quarters UC found the net on their first possession this time it was Rogers find Nick Kava cutting in front of the cage for the goal.  Vanover and Rogers combined for goals to make it 13-4, while the Patriots defense picked up the pressure as Toohey notched six saves in the quarter to prevent William Penn from cutting into the lead. 

The Statesmen netted two of the first three goals in the fourth quarter before Coleman forced a turnover which was scooped up by Chandler Muth.  On the ensuing transition, Muth found Popovich for his career-high fourth goal of the game making It 15-6 midway through to period.  Less than a minute later a Toohey save led to Brandt leading a UC transition that resulted in a goal from Coleman.  Christian Vanover and Johnathon Vanover netted the final two Cumberlands goals for the 18-7 final.

UC will return to the field Sunday, February 11, when they host fifth-ranked St. Ambrose.  The game is set for a 4 p.m. start with live video available here.

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