Olivet, MI – The Oberlin College men's lacrosse team gutted out its first victory of the season, earning a hard-fought, 11-9, road win at Olivet College on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore Jay Messina spearheaded the Yeomen effort with a career-best six-point day as he cashed in four goals to go along with two assists. Steve Kelleher, Lucas Mendicino, and Eric Hager each added two goals to help the Yeomen get into the win column for the first time in 2017.  

The Yeomen jumped on the Comets early, scoring all three of the game's first-quarter goals. Messina got the fun started with the help of a Hager feed, and less than a minute later first-year Regan Chasney cashed in the second goal of his collegiate career, finishing off a feed from Kelleher. Messina would strike once more in the stanza as he was assisted by Mendicino.

However, the roles were reversed in the second period as the Comets responded with four answered goals to take a 4-3 lead into the intermission.

It was nip-and-tuck throughout the second half as no more than three goals separated the two foes over the final 30 minutes of action.  Messina's third goal of the game with 6:17 left in the third put Oberlin out in front 6-5 and the Yeomen would never trail again.

Hager, who assisted Messina on the go-ahead go, would give Oberlin an 8-6 lead heading into the fourth, sending in a pass from Messina with 28 ticks left in the session.

Oberlin had a 10-7 lead midway through the final frame, but back-to-back goals from the Comets put the pressure right back on the Yeomen as they were clinging to the one-goal advantage with just under three minutes left to play.

Thankfully, Hager continued his giving ways, setting up Mendicino for all-important insurance man-up goal to complete his four-assist day and cap the game's scoring.

With the victory Oberlin moved to 1-3 overall while Olivet remained winless at 0-3.

Senior captain Kinori Rosnow won 19-of-22 face-offs as his ability to gain possession for the Yeomen loomed large in the win.

First-year goalie Calvin Filson had the best game of his young career, making 12 saves against the 21 shots on goal he saw in the match. Overall, Oberlin out-shot Olivet 48-38.

The Yeomen finished with a 48-39 edge in ground balls and were successful on 19 of their 25 clear attempts.

Oberlin returns home next Saturday for its first game of the season at the Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex as they welcome the Purple Raiders of Mount Union for a 1 p.m. clash.