Box Score

BEVERLY HILLS, Mich. – Augustana opened the 2018 men's lacrosse season Sunday, taking on Albion at Detroit Country Day School. The Britons broke open a close game in the second half and went on to hand the Vikings a 14-8 setback. Coach Dan Torie's club will play its home opener versus Beloit on Wednesday, February 21. Faceoff at Thorson-Lucken Field is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
 
Albion led 2-0 midway through the first quarter on a Jacob Swift goal and a man-up tally from David DiRado. A McKay Potter (Hudson HS, Hudson, Wis.) goal got Augustana on the board with an assist from Nick Gallo (Maine South HS, Park Ridge, Ill.).
 
John Cooke scored for the Britons just inside the two-minute mark of the first quarter and teammates added the next two goals to give Albion a 5-1 lead late in the second.  Gallo stemmed the tide with a man-up goal off a Nick Zielinski (Huntley HS, Huntley, Ill.) assist and freshman Trever Moore (Naperville Central HS, Naperville, Ill.) added two more, including one just seven seconds before the halftime buzzer that pulled Augustana to within 5-4 at the break.
 
The Britons put three goals on the board in slightly more than five minutes of the third period. Senior Hayden Holland (Owatonna HS, Owatonna, Minn.) and junior Adam Borgetti (Naperville Central HS, Naperville, Ill.) answered for the Vikings, who trailed  8-6 after three.
 
Albion put it out of reach with the first five goals of the final period. DiRado had two of those. Junior Lee Whorwell (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.) and Gallo scored for Augustana before Swift closed the day's scoring with an unassisted goal with 2:06 to play.
 
Gallo and Moore each finished with two goals and an assist for Torie's crew. Senior Jake Ellis (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, Ill.) went the distance in goal, recording 14 saves.
 
DiRado and Brandon Lebioda led the Britons with three goals each. Lebioda added a pair of assists. Brandon Tata made seven saves and got the win in goal.