HOLLAND, Mich. – The Carroll University men's lacrosse team fell in its season opener to Hanover College on Sunday afternoon. The Pioneers dropped the contest by a score of 5-23. Danny McGee and Sam Kopshinsky scored twice each, while Zach Mehrtens added the fifth goal.
 
The Pioneers (0-1) generated 12 shots in the first half but were only able to muster six in the final 30 minutes. Carroll saw a barrage of shots from Hanover, facing 71 total attempts. Carroll recorded 14 saves from goalie Cole Faust. Spencer Lautner led the team in ground balls and caused turnovers, as Carroll picked up 35 and six as a team, respectively. The Pios won 10-32 face-offs led by seven from Joe Harrison.
 
Hanover got on the board first with a goal in the opening minute of the game. Soon after, Miles Dodge picked up a penalty, but the Pios held on down a man. The Panthers scored twice more within the first five minutes of the game. Carroll got their first shot off from Mehrtens at the 9:40 mark of the game, but the ball went wide. Carroll got on the board from an unassisted goal by Kopshinsky for his first career goal. Hanover scored once more before the end of the first period. The Panthers started with two more goals at the beginning of the second period, but McGee found the back of the net from an assist by Mehrtens to cut the deficit to a manageable four goals. Hanover scored twice more before Kopshinksy scored again with 1:47 remaining in the first half. However, the Panthers moved their lead to 9-3 in the final seconds of the second quarter.  
 
Mehrtens got his first goal of the year at the 10:43 mark of the third quarter, to make it a 4-11 ball game. The Panthers ended the third up 17-4, extending their lead by a 1-8 margin. McGee scored once more in the game in the fourth quarter, but Hanover dropped six more goals in the second half to take the win.
 
Carroll will travel to Madison next Wednesday night for a battle with Edgewood College at 5 PM.