Box Score

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Junior Kevin Gleason (Loyola Academy, Chicago, Ill.) tallied three goals and senior goalkeeper Cody Burgdorff (Peak to Peak Academy, Lafayette, Colo.) recorded 15 saves Wednesday to lead Coach Kyle Hart's Augustana lacrosse team to an 8-5 win over Transylvania at Pat Deacon Stadium. The Vikings evened their 2015 record at 1-1, while the game was the season-opener for the Pioneers.
 
Burgdorff came up big early, as Transylvania unleashed 10 shots before Augustana could get one off. The Viking keeper made four saves in the first four and a half minutes of the game, including three in a 20-second stretch. Finally, at the 11:28 mark of the first quarter, Ben Erwin got one past him and the hosts led 1-0.
 
Gleason's goal at 7:28 came on Augustana's first shot attempt and started a flurry of scoring for the visitors. Senior Vincent Giglierano (Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif.) scored with 28 seconds left to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead after one period and freshman John Danko (Lockport HS, Lockport, Ill.), Gleason and senior Evan Chikeles (Hoffman Estates HS, Hoffman Estates, Ill.) scored in the first four minutes of the second quarter to put the Vikings up 5-1. Junior Scott Davis (St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Overland Park, Kan.) assisted on Danko's goal.
 
Josh Mesmer pulled the Pioneers within 5-2, scoring with 1:27 left before halftime. That would be the score as the teams went to the break.
 
Gleason scored early in the third, but Transylvania got a power play goal from Clay Douthat and one at even strength from Evan Wright to cut the deficit to 6-4 going to the fourth quarter. Mesmer's tally with 12:51 left drew the Pioneers within one, but Danko used a Jonathan Bryk (Fremd HS, Palatine, Ill.) assist to score with a man advantage at 6:55 and Davis accounted for the final score with an even-strength goal 55 seconds later. Sophomore J.P. Palasek (Montini Catholic HS, Wheaton, Ill.) assisted on Davis' score.
 
The Vikings finished with a 44-35 advantage in shots, including a 23-21 edge in shots on goal. Led by senior Taylor McGinnis' (New Trier HS, Kenilworth, Ill.) six-of-seven effort, Augustana won 11 of 17 faceoffs. Transylvania had a slim 31-30 margin in ground balls (Bryk, Gleason and Chikeles led the Vikings with four each) and committed 10 turnovers to 15 for Augustana.
 
The Vikings will play their home opener at Thorson-Lucken Field on Saturday, February 28, hosting Trine in a 3:00 p.m. contest.