FAIRFIELD, Conn.- Sophomore Ryan Rooney scored three goals to lead the Sacred Heart University men's lacrosse team to an 11-7 victory over Holy Cross on Saturday afternoon in the home opener on Campus Field. The Pioneers had seven different goal scorers as they open the season 2-0 for the first time since 2008.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 2-0
Holy Cross: 2-2

Stat Leaders:
Jake Ward: 1 goal, 3 assists 
Ryan Rooney: 3 goals
Tucker Spencer: 2 goals, 1 assist 
Will Moulton: 2 goals
Tim Kiely: 1 goal, 1 assist 

Of Note:
The Crusaders struck first at 8:18, but Declan Wilkie scored his first career goal, sparking a 5-0 run from 7:24 in the opening quarter to 9:16 in the second. SHU held a 2-1 advantage in the first frame and capped its run with Rooney's second of the day to take a 5-1 lead in the second. 

Holy Cross scored back-to-back goals a minute apart, but Tim Kiely, Will Moulton, and Rooney each added a goal to send the Pioneers into halftime with an 8-3 edge. 

Tucker Spencer scored the opening goal of the third before the Crusaders added three straight to pull within three, 9-6, heading into the final quarter. 

Spencer and Moulton added a pair of goals in the final frame, extending SHU's lead to 11-6, but Holy Cross added one more at 2:55 to cut their deficit to four, as the Pios secured their second straight win, 11-7. 

Luke Romanek won 13 of 22 face-offs while collecting seven ground balls.

Alex Pazienza made 10 saves in goals for the Pioneers, his second straight game with double-digit stops. 

Up Next: 
Sacred Heart will be back in action with a short trip to Fairfield on Wednesday, February 19, at 7:00 pm.