MIDDLETOWN, CT. – Taking full advantage of the sunshine beaming down on Citrin Field, the Wesleyan men's lacrosse team opened their season on home turf in a 14-7 NESCAC clash with Colby College as Gavin Lechner '27 led Wesleyan to their first victory of the season.

Racking up seven points as he led all Cardinals (1-0 overall, 1-0 NESCAC) with six assists and a goal of his own, Lechner served the battery power of the Cardinals' offense on the afternoon. The last Cardinals to record six assists or more in a game was Jack Raba '24 in the NCAA Tournament showdown with St. John Fisher.

The defending NESCAC champions left little wiggle room for the Mules (0-1 overall, 0-1 NESCAC), breaching the defensive zone for much of the first quarter as they ran four goals in a row and a fifth to open the second period. Despite the Cardinals' edge in shots and goals, the Mules' offense kept up, running 10 shots to the Cardinals' 14, forcing goalkeeper Conor Selfridge '26 to save six. Raba opened the scoring with just under five minutes removed from the opening draw, scoring his second two minutes later. CK Giancola '24 and Devin O'Sullivan '25 tallied goals two and four.

Ben Burns '26 was the first on the board in the second quarter, but the second bout of action was near even strength with the Mules prioritizing accuracy over quantity when lining up Selfridge with three goals. Charlie Knapp '26 and Will Miller '26 made sure to hold the Mules to a four-goal deficit, sandwiching two goals in between as the Cardinals entered the half with a 7-3 differential.

Rewarded with five assists in the first half, Lechner finally rang a goal of his own on Will Heisler with a quick over the shoulder goal from the left post, assisted by Raba from behind the net. The Mules would cut the score in half five minutes later before Will Shull '25, Miller, Burns, and Giancola would return four in a row.

The Mules gained three more goals in the final minutes of the game but were unable to stave off the Cardinals. Thomas Girimonti '28 and Shull closed the game with dual goals unassisted.

Raba followed Lechner with three assists of his own to pile onto two goals. Burns fired off a team leading 12 shots, five on goal. Leading off the Cardinals' defense, Emmett Schillinger '25 collected six ground balls, causing four turnovers.

In goal, Selfridge finished the afternoon with 13 saves to earn his first win of the season. Heisler made 15 saves for the Mules in the opposite net.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday, March 8, when they travel to Salisbury for a 3 p.m. start.