HUNTSVILLE, Ala.— Ten different Mavericks scored as the Colorado Mesa University men's lacrosse team opened the 2022 campaign with a convincing 19-10 win over the University of Alabama at Huntsville Chargers on Wednesday afternoon here at Charger Park.
 
Trent Pernell led the balanced effort with four goals as he, AJ Switzer, Hunter Holcomb Braden Lowe all had 4-point afternoons.  Switzer also had a hat-trick and added an assist while Holcomb had two goals and two assists. Lowe scored one goal while helping on three others.
 
Defensively, freshman Reece Sullivan made 11 saves in his collegiate debut to earn the win in net.  He allowed just six goals in more than 51 minutes, departing the game with a 19-6 lead
 
2021 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Dylan Checketts also had a fine afternoon on face-offs, winning 14 of 17 draws while claiming nine ground balls.
 
The Mavericks led throughout and opened up a 5-0 lead in the opening 6:01 of the game as Carson Schwark, Holcomb, Trey Corkin III all scored even strength goals before Lowe and Pernell added man-up goals after a 3-minute illegal equipment penalty on the Chargers.
 
The Mavs then built their lead to 8-2 by the end of the first quarter and led 10-4 at halftime before putting the game away early in the third with Alex Blatt, James Steinke and Pernell goals in the opening 2:37 of the half, extending their lead to double-digits (14-4).
 
The Mavs also had an even better fourth-quarter start scoring five times in the first 6:08 of the final stanza.  Jed Brummett had the first two of those goals.   His brother JJ Brummett also scored for the Mavs in the third quarter.
 
The Mavs finished with a 58-42 advantage in shots and scooped up 39 ground balls, 19 more than the Chargers.  CMU won 21 of the 31 face-offs as Joey Grzetic IV was 6-for-8 in relief of Checketts.
 
Preston Deno and Josh Campbell scored two goals each to lead the hosts, who fell to 1-1 on the young season.
 
CMU will continue a 3-game swing through the Southeast on Saturday, playing Rollins College in Jacksonville, Florida.