ST. LOUIS— Johnny Cary scored two goals, including the game-winner with just over seven minutes left while the Colorado Mesa University Maverick defense successfully killed six penalties, including three in the fourth quarter and one in the final two minutes, to hold on to a heart-pounding 8-7 victory in their men's lacrosse season-opener at Maryville University on Thursday afternoon.
 
The Mavericks, who are now 4-0 all-time against the now 1-1 Saints, scored five straight goals over four minutes and 21 seconds to open up a 5-1 lead in the first quarter but were held scoreless in the second stanza as the teams went into the half knotted up at 5 after four straight Saint tallies. 
 
Jake Keyes then scored a man-up goal just 1:21 into the third quarter on the third of CMU's five extra-man opportunities before Cary, a junior midfielder, tallied his first marker 4:28 later to give the Mavericks an 9-7 advantage.
 
However, Maryville would answer once again with two goals of their own in the third quarter before Cary scored the only goal of the fourth quarter to eventually win the contest. 
 
The Mavs were then able to kill off two 30-second penalties in the final 3:08 as they forced 25 Saint turnovers overall.
 
Maverick senior defender Cole Smith, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's Co-Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, had three caused turnovers and three ground balls while fellow defender Austin Bullock had a team-high four ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers.  Remi Reeves also made nine saves while facing 34 shots from the Saints, who outshot the Mavs by five throughout the afternoon.
 
On the offensive end, Brandon Wilson and Ethan Gant joined Cary with two points as they each recorded a goal and an assist during the Mavs' 5-0 opening-quarter spurt.  Kyle O'Brien, Michael Dasch Jr. and Ben Austin also scored in the run.
 
Cary led the Mavericks with six total shots, five of which tested Saint net-minder Liam Coyle, who had 10 saves.

Lucas Shafer had a monster game for Maryville scoring two goals and assisting on another with taking 12 shots, seven of which were on goal.
 
CMU is now 5-4 all-time in their season-openers and will look to move to 2-0 on Saturday morning when they face Lindenwood in St. Charles at 11 a.m. CST (10 a.m. Mountain).