PAINESVILLE, OHIO – In just its second game as a varsity program, the Lake Erie College men's lacrosse team got a taste of competition in the country's premier lacrosse conference, falling to third-ranked NYIT 22-3 in the East Coast Conference (ECC) opener for both schools.

The Storm (0-2) fell behind 9-0 before freshman Keegan Bal (Coquitlam, B.C./Centennial Secondary) scored twice in the second period. The Bears scored five times after that for a 14-2 halftime lead.

NYIT (2-0) scored eight more times in the second half. Freshman Joeyjohn French (Tully, N.Y./Tully) scored with 10 seconds remaining for the third Lake Erie goal.

The Storm was outshot 64-19 in the game. Austin Carino led all players with five goals while Quinn Cok had four for the Bears. NYIT's Matt Sullivan had a goal and 11 assists for a 12-point day.

Lake Erie is back in action on Thursday, March 11, with a nonconference match at Otterbein College.