DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. The American International College men's lacrosse team dropped its season opener Saturday afternoon at non-conference and nationally ranked No. 14 Mercy College, 20-4.

The Yellow Jackets highest point getter from a season ago, sophomore Jack McIntyre (East Longmeadow, Mass) got 2016 off right, netting his first goal in the first five minutes. McIntyre struck the unassisted goal to cut the AIC deficit back to one, 2-1, at the 10:06 mark of the first frame.

Mercy's Bobby McDonough got rolling, though, connecting on three straight goals to end the first and open the second, opening a four-goal advantage for his Maverick's. Mercy ran the streak for five consecutive goals before AIC junior Kevin Papineau (Westfield, Mass.) scored an unassisted goal midway through the second quarter.

The Mavericks added two more to end the half and take a commanding 9-2 advantage into the intermission.

Out of the break, Mercy showed none, rattling off five straight goals from five different scorers. Papineau found classmate John Magliano (Upton, Mass.) to stop the run at the 8:24 mark of the third. Mercy added another, but within a minute, Jacket sophomore Colton Larkin (Norwalk, Conn.) struck for AIC's third unassisted goal of the day, 15-4.

The Mavericks held American International scoreless in the fourth and final quarter, while McDonough added his game-high fifth goal.

The Yellow Jackets were outshot 51-26, while freshman goalie Tariq Qureshi (Elmont, N.Y.) made eight saves in his first collegiate start. Senior captain Michael Palmieri (Guilford, Conn.) picked up a team-high five ground balls in the losing effort.

AIC returns to the field Sunday, Feb. 28 when they travel to nationally ranked No. 4 Merrimack College for their Northeast-10 opener. Game-time is slated for 4 p.m. from North Andover, Mass.