LAFAYETTE HILL, Pa. – The No. 9-ranked Saint Anselm College men's lacrosse team opened up a 11-0 lead at halftime and never looked back, getting past the Griffins from Chestnut Hill College on Sunday in non-conference play.

Saint Anselm, ranked ninth in NCAA Division II by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, moves to 1-0 on the year while Chestnut Hill, receiving votes in the USILA national poll, drops to 0-2 with a pair of losses to nationally-ranked opponents.

The Hawks shut down Chestnut Hill across the first two-plus quarters of the game, logging a first-half shutout for the fourth time in the team's last 13 games. Dating back to Mar. 31, 2021, a span of 14 total games, the Hawks have kept opponents to three or fewer goals at halftime in 10 of those contests.

Junior Jack Andrews (Cumberland, R.I.) matched a career-high total with six points, chipping in with four goals and two assists (4-2=6). Classmate Jack Robinson (Wilbraham, Mass.) also equaled a personal-best total for point scoring, notching two goals with three assists for five points (2-3=5), with sophomore Nick Larsen (Northborough, Mass.) scoring a career-high two goals and finishing with three points (2-1=3).

Senior CJ Hart (Reading, Mass.) continued his stellar play, improving to 18-4 in his Saint Anselm career with six saves on eight shots before his removal from the game early in the fourth quarter. Hart and the Hawks defense reeled in 47 ground balls and the team combined to cause 19 turnovers, the most in a game for Saint Anselm since Apr. 28, 2010 against Bentley.

Saint Anselm gave up just eight shot attempts in the first half while firing 35 shots of their own. With the help of 21 first-half ground balls, the Hawks built a dominant 11-0 lead at halftime. Graduate student Will Palmer (Concord, Mass.) started the scoring just 11 seconds into the 2022 season, firing home a pass from Andrews to get the ball rolling.

In total, the Hawks began the game with eight goal scorers on their first eight goals. The game ended with nine student-athletes potting goals for the Hawks and, cumulatively, 11 on the Saint Anselm roster posted at least one point.

Junior Ryan Slattery (North Andover, Mass.) paced the team with three caused turnovers and classmate Craig Yannone (Lynnfield, Mass.) won 13 out of 18 face-offs for the Hawks.

Junior David Olsen (Salem, N.H.) came on in relief of Hart shortly into the fourth quarter, conceding three goals on five shots.

Saint Anselm returns to action Saturday, Mar. 5 at 11 a.m. as the team hosts Georgian Court at Grappone Stadium.