IRVINE, Calif. – Colorado Mesa men's lacrosse scored early and often in a 27-5 win over Dominican University in the first match of the 2024 season for the No. 16 Mavericks.

Junior JJ Brummett led the way with eight goals, all of which came in the first half and six of which came in the first quarter, while senior Philip Petersen added four goals and senior Hunter Holcomb notched a hat trick.

The Mavericks scored 11 goals in the first quarter and 10 goals in the second to hold a commanding 21-3 halftime lead before largely running out the clock in the second half against Dominican, who was playing its fourth game as a Division II program since 2015 after re-elevating its program to varsity status earlier this year.

Colorado Mesa outshot the Penguins 54-21 and 49-15 in shots on goal. Sophomore goalie Luke Parrish (three goals allowed, five saves) earned the win in net after playing the first half while Mac Bayless (two GA, two saves) and Dom Pasquale (zero GA, three saves) played a quarter apiece. Colorado Mesa won 28 of a possible 36 draws and out-scooped Dominican 38-8 on ground balls.

The Mavericks got their season off to a banner start when 2023 All-American Dylan Checketts won the opening faceoff (part of a 12-for-13 day in the circle) and found the net within 30 seconds for CMU's first goal of the season. The Mavs scored again within the season's first minute after Logan Smith found the net with 14:01 to play in the opening quarter.

Brummett (six) and Holcomb (two) then combined for CMU's next eight goals as the Mavericks built a 10-1 lead. Mike Edwards completed the first quarter scoring by finding the net with six seconds left to give the Mavs an 11-2 lead after one period, then Edwards scored again eight seconds into the second quarter as the Mavs collected another 11 goals in the second 15 minutes.

Other offensive highlights for CMU included a pair of man-up goals for Micah Payton and two goals for true freshman Jack Cooper in his first collegiate game. Redshirt senior James Steinke recorded a goal and three assists, tying former teammate AJ Switzer for the school's all-time career record after the two traded the record back and forth throughout last season.

Colorado Mesa plays its first RMAC match of the season this Sunday against Concordia Irvine, which hosted today's neutral site match. The Golden Eagles, in their first year as an RMAC men's lacrosse member, beat Dominican 24-8 in their previous game and are facing Westminster in their RMAC opener on Friday night.