WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The Monmouth University men's lacrosse team began its 2021 season with an 8-5 victory over Manhattan on Saturday afternoon at Kessler Stadium.

The Hawks trailed 1-0 after the first quarter, but scored four of the next five goals to take a lead they would never relinquish. The visitors scored first in the second half, but Monmouth responded with another 4-1 run to put the game out of reach. 
 
Zach Clemente scored a hat trick, Dwayne Mattushik added two and Max Brooks handed out three assists in the win.

NOTES & QUOTES
"It was such a good feeling to have our team back on the same sideline competing together this afternoon but also to experience the heat and intensity that comes with game day again. We had a lot of veterans step up and play really well today while also seeing a number of guys getting some playing time for the first time in our careers. All in all we know that we have a lot of areas that we can continue to improve in, are looking forward to getting back to work on Monday, and we're glad to come out of our first game with a win."
- Head Coach Brian Fisher

"Above all else it just feels incredible to be out there competing and playing lacrosse again after a tough last 365 days. Jumping right into a MAAC opponent is always exciting and it felt really good to get an all-around team win after so much time off. Every day we get together we are grateful for and we're always happy walking away with a win."
- Senior Captain Chris Hervada

- Monmouth moved to 6-1 all-time against Manhattan, including 4-0 at home against the Jaspers.
- The Hawks have won six straight meetings with the Jaspers.
- Monmouth improved to 4-4 all-time in season-opening games.
- It was Monmouth's third home-opening win in program history.
- Saturday's game was considered a non-conference game for both teams.
- The Hawks wore their blue chrome helmets with white jerseys and shorts.
- It was Monmouth's first game in exactly 365 days.
- Sophomore Connor Macrae made his collegiate debut and first-career start on attack.
- Sophomore Michael Quigg made his collegiate debut and first-career start on defense.
- Graduate transfer Dwayne Mattushik made his Monmouth debut and started on attack.
- Freshman Patrick Orapello made his collegiate debut off the bench.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Zach Clemente registered his third-career hat trick.
- Dwayne Mattushik scored twice in his first appearance in a Monmouth uniform.
- Connor Macrae, Cade Stratton and Anthony Sardo each added goals for Monmouth. 
- Macrae scored the first goal of his career and it came on the man-up unit.
- Sardo scored his 26th career goal and registered his 31st career point.
- Stratton scored his 17th career goal and collected his 27th career point. It was Stratton's first-career man-up tally.
- Max Brooks led Monmouth and matched his career high with three assists. Brooks has six assists in his last two games.
- David Cormack, Garrett Klurman and Scooter Whiteside each added an assist in the win. Klurman's assist was the first of his career.
- Noah Lode totaled nine saves, including three in the first quarter.
- Matt Soutar collected five ground balls and was 11-for-15 at the faceoff X.
- Dillon Smart also picked up five ground balls and caused two turnovers. Smart is tied with Garrett Pfeifer '18 for sixth in team history with 85 career ground balls.
- Chris Hervada led Monmouth with three caused turnovers, giving him 39 for his career. Hervada is now tied for fourth in program history with Garrett Pfeifer '18 and Ryan Horsch '15. 
- Each team scored twice in man-up situations. 
- Monmouth outshot Manhattan 34-25 in the game.

UP NEXT
Monmouth's first road test comes next Saturday, March 13, when the team begins conference play at Siena at 1 p.m.