WAUKESHA, Wis. - Sophomore attackman Jeff Schultz (Franklin, Wis.) registered a hat trick but the Carroll University men's lacrosse team lost to Monmouth College 11-8 in a cold, snowy season-opening nonconference game at Schneider Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Pioneers trailed 7-6 after three quarters but were outscored by a 4-2 margin in the decisive fourth quarter.
Monmouth freshman attackman Mitch Perez scored what proved to be the winning goal off an assist from sophomore midfielder Thomas Van Alstine to extend the lead to 9-6 with 8:04 remaining. 
Freshman attackman Airik Ranjo (San Diego, Calif.) generated 11 shots and followed with two goals for Carroll, which outshot Monmouth 33-29 in the contest but were narrowly edged 20-19 in shots-on-goal opportunities.
Junior attackman Paul Kerchberger (Deer Park, Ill.), sophomore midfielder Christopher Bechtel (Sammamish, Wash.) and freshman midfielder Michael Peters (Chicago, Ill.) each added one goal for Carroll, which led 3-2 at the end of the first quarter.
Sophomore goalkeeper Abe Escrada (Sammamish, Wash.) had nine saves in playing the entire 60 minutes for the Pioneers.
Van Alstine and freshman midfielder Jeff Knapp each scored three goals in the season opener for Monmouth, which captured 17 of 23 face-offs. Sophomore goalkeeper Chase Cranford added eight saves for the Fighting Scots.