By Nick Porter 

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Southern Virginia University men's lacrosse team started the 2017 campaign on the right foot, with a thrilling 16-14 victory over Capital Athletic Conference opponent Marymount University. 

The win marks the first time the Knights (1-0, 1-0 CAC) have beaten the Saints (0-2, 0-1 CAC) in men's lacrosse in program history.

"I'm very happy to see us get the win and put it together in the end," head coach Jason Lamb said after the game. "It wasn't a perfect outing, we had a rough fourth quarter, but we didn't trail during the entire game and led in most offensive categories, something not easily done in the CAC and on the road."

The Knights scored the first goal just two minutes into the game, as Ryan Larsen (Mesa, Ariz.) capitalized on a man-up opportunity on a pass from Shawn Lamb (Buena Vista, Va.). The Saints score 45 seconds later, before the Knights closed out the quarter with a 3-1 run.

Casey Rich (Buffalo, N.Y.) scored his first two goals of the season in the second quarter, and assisted Larsen seconds before the horn, to increase the lead 7-4 at the intermission.

After scoring the first goal in the third quarter, the Saints went on a 3-0 run, which was answered, after trading goals, by a 4-0 Southern Virginia run to close out the period and give the Knights their largest lead of the game, 13-8.

Marymount outscored Southern Virginia 6-3 in the final period, but the Knights were able to hold on for the win. The Saints had a chance to tie the game with less than a minute remaining, but the game-tying shot was blocked. The Knights' Cavin Huntsman (Holladay, Utah) was able to force a turnover and pick up the ground ball with 26 seconds left, enough time for the Knights to clear and score to secure the win.  

Huntsman, who is in his first year, was the faceoff man for the Knights, winning nearly 50% (12-27) of the restarts and picking up a team-best five ground balls.

In goal freshman Carson Franklin (Charlottesville, Va.) earned his first collegiate win, recording eight saves.

Rich finished with four goals and two assists for the Knights, and led the team with 11 shots. Freshman Shawn Lamb also found the back of the net four times in his collegiate debut, with two assists and 100% shooting on goal.

Larsen and Brady Cook recorded hat tricks in the victory; Dan Bangerter and Spencer Tunick also got in on the scoring action with a goal apiece.

Southern Virginia will have a week off before its home opener against Guilford College. Faceoff will be at 1 p.m. at The Fields in Buena Vista, Virginia.