Romeoville, Ill. – Senior Paul Ruskoski (Tulsa, Oklahoma/Bishop Kelley HS) tallied a program record nine goals to help the No. 11 Lewis University men's lacrosse team earn a 15-8 win in their home opener against Walsh Saturday afternoon at Lewis Stadium.
 
With the win, the Flyers improved to 2-0 while the Cavaliers dipped to 0-1.
 
IMPACT PLAYERS
Along with his career day for goals, Ruskoski also snagged a team-best six ground balls while Malikye Good (Windsor, Ontario, Canada/St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic HS) dished out three assists in the Flyers win. Tyler Davis (Edina, Minnesota/Edina HS) caused three turnovers in the win. Dylan Kendrick (Chanhassen, Minnesota/Chanhassen HS) won eight face-offs and in net, Caden Donahue (Hugo, Minnesota/Mahtomedi HS) made eight saves to earn his second win of the year.
 
Ty Pilkington secured a hat trick with his teammate Case Myers collecting five ground balls in the loss. In net, Austin England made 22 saves in the losing effort.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
With both side scoreless through the opening minutes of the first quarter, the Flyers broke the deadlock as Ruskoski tallied back-to-back goals in under 30 seconds to give Lewis a 2-0 lead with 8:29 left in the opening frame.
 
Walsh got on the board at the 3:08 mark to cut the Lewis lead, but the Flyers had an answer as another Ruskoski goal spurned a 5-0 run that spanned the end of the first and most of the second quarter to inflate the Lewis lead to 7-1. Both sides traded goals before the half ended with Lewis ahead, 8-2, after 30 minutes.
 
Out of the break, the Cavaliers rattled off three of the first four goals of the quarter and trimmed the Lewis lead down to four, 9-5, with 7:31 left. That was as close as the visitors got the remainder of the contest as Lewis responded by scoring four of the next five goals to enter the fourth quarter ahead, 13-6.
 
In the fourth, both sides found the net twice with Lewis using goals from Ruskoski and Schelfe to seal the 15-8 win.
 
GAME NOTES

• Ruskoski snapped the previous record of eight which was set by Drew Kask against Alderson Broaddus on March 10, 2020. 
• Lewis is now 5-0 against Walsh all-time
• Since the programs first season in 2020, the Flyers have never lost their first home game of the year

UP NEXT
The Flyers are back in action on Valentines Day against Seton Hill. Opening face-off from the Quaker State is set for noon central time.