SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts The American International College men's lacrosse team dropped a 12-4 result against Saint Thomas Aquinas College in nonconference action at Abdow Field on Saturday, February 23.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: STAC 12, AIC 4
Records: The Yellow Jackets fall to 0-4, while the Spartans begin the season 1-0.
Location: Ronald J. Abdow Field, Springfield, Massachusetts

STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Eric Mackowski: Two goals, four ground balls
Avery Foye: One goal, one assist
Rusty Stone: One goal
Quinn Caesar: Eight ground balls
Eddie Beattie: Six faceoff wins
Stephen Stratton: Loss (0-4), nine saves,

STAC:
Luke Broderick: Four goals, one assist
Anthony Irizarry: Two goals, three assists
Tyler Senatore: Two goals, one assist, five ground balls
Thomas Sharp: Two goals, one assist, eight ground balls
Thomas Howell: Six caused turnovers, five ground balls
Ryan Mello: Win (1-0), 10 saves

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Both teams struggled to find control of the ball in the early going, before the Spartans struck first at 3:53. They extended the edge to 2-0 before AIC countered at 7:30, as freshmen attackers Avery Foye and Eric Mackowski combined for a goal, with Mackowski finishing a shot at 7:30 of the frame. However, the Spartans struck back before the end of the frame for a 3-1 lead after one.
• The second was more of the same; only one goal was scored in the first half of the period, by Saint Thomas Aquinas's Luke Broderick. Freshman attacker Rusty Stone scored for AIC at 7:33, but the rest of the quarter's scoring belonged to the Spartans, who netted three to take a 7-2 lead into the break.
• As in the second, neither team could find the net early in the third. The Spartans scored the frame's first tally at 6:48, and while Mackowski got it back for AIC at 10:45, the visiting team notched two more before the period expired to take a 10-3 advantage into the final 15.
• Foye scored early in the fourth, notching a goal at 1:22 to give AIC hope, but that was the end of the scoring for the Yellow Jackets; the Spartans added two more goals before the end of regulation for the 12-4 final.

NEXT UP:

• AIC closes the three-game homestand with a matchup against Dominican on Tuesday, February 26 at 5 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED:

• For more updates about the AIC men's lacrosse team, follow @AIC_Lacrosse onTwitter and@jacketslacrosseonInstagram, and likeAmerican International Men's LacrosseonFacebook. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow@AICAthleticsonTwitter andInstagram, and likeAIC Yellow JacketsonFacebook.