WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Lyons of Wheaton College came into town, Friday morning in what would be the season opener for Hartford men's lacrosse. The Lyons would come out on top in what would be a comeback victory defeating the Hawks 12-11.

Rapid Recap:

• Sophomore Michael Novotny (Cornwall, N.Y.) got things started on the scoreboard as he lasered home the first goal of the game for the Hawks within the first two minutes of the game. Novotny doubled down by putting another one in the back of the net putting the Hawks up 2-0. Wheaton would fire back with a goal of their own bringing the Lyons within one. The Hawks would extend their lead to two again with a goal from sophomore Jack Hart (Grafton, Mass.). Once again Wheaton would crawl back into the game with a goal from Charlie Goodrich, and again Hartford would put themselves ahead two with a goal from freshman Gavin Pelletier (Southington, Conn.) with less than a minute left, Wheaton would score again shortly after and the Hawks would lead after the first quarter 4-3.
• The Hawks got things going early in the second quarter as sophomore Aidan Ezra (New Milford, Conn.) scored within the first minute to put the Hawks up two. Wheaton would fight back, putting in a goal of their own from Emmet Edwards. But Ezra again would score for the Hawks off an assist from Novotny putting Hartford  ahead 6-4. The Hawks would remain on the attack, as they would put another one in coming from sophomore Maxton McPhee (Dudley, Mass.) that would extend the Hartford lead to three. Wheaton would continue to fight back, as they would all game, notching a goal to shrink the Hartford lead. Hartford would draw a penalty resulting in a goal from graduate student Jake Ojert (Doylestown, Pa.) with an assist from Ezra. The Lyons would continue to dig, scoring two goals in the last 30 seconds of the half, as the halftime score saw the Hawks ahead 8-7.
• Novotny would relinquish the Hartford attack to start the second half, putting in back to back goals for the Hawks coming off assists from Ezra and Petellier. The Wheaton response was staunch as they would retaliate with a 5-0 run, giving themselves the first lead of the game, and ending the third quarter 12-10.
• The stellar defense of the Lyons held the Hawks to only three goals in the second half after scoring eight in the first. Ojert would will his way through the defense and score a goal whilst falling down to bring Hartford within one. But Wheaton would go into game control and wind down the clock in order to secure their victory, as the Lyons would come out on top 12-11.

Inside the Numbers:

• Emmet Edwards led all scoring with five points, four goals, five shots on goal and six shots for the Lyons as well as securing one assist and four ground balls.
• Novotny led the Hawks with five points scoring four goals with one assist, on eight shots, and five on goal. Ezra finished with four points netting two goals, two assists, on eight shots and six on goal. Ojert ended the game with three points scoring two goals, one assist, three shots and two on goal. Petellier scored two points, scoring one goal on two shots on goal, and one assist. Hart scored one point from his one goal, that came on one shot as well as securing three ground balls and causing one turnover. 
• In net for the Hawks sophomore CJ Ledwick (Falmouth, Mass.) finished with seventeen saves, while junior Tobias Ballestar (Westwood, N.J.) led the defensive effort with four caused turnovers. 
• Wheaton out-shot the Hawks 43-37, as well as winning the ground ball match up (34-27) and face offs (14-27 - 13-27).

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