The University of Mary Washington men's lacrosse team dropped its 2021 season opener, 19-8, at 19th ranked Washington and Lee University on Wednesday evening in Lexington, Va. The Eagles slip to 0-1 on the campaign.

The Generals started with a flourish, scoring the game's first three goals en route to a 4-1 lead after the first quarter. J.D. Nozemack provided the Eagles' first score of the game, with 5:39 remaining in the first. 

W&L scored three straight after Nozemack's tally to take a 6-1 lead, but Eagle Ethan Castleman stemmed the tide at 11:11 left in the second to cut the margin to 6-2. Following three more Generals goals, Castleman scored his second of the night, with 5:32 to go until halftime. The hosts scored twice more, before Cameron Walker netted a man-up tally with 1:27 to play on a Kevin Cruz assist.

The Eagles scored three straight goals in the third quarter to trim the deficit to 12-7. Nozemack, Kristophe Newman, and Cruz tallied scores in a three-minute span. W&L capped the third with a score to move its lead to 13-7.

In the fourth, Nathan Turney scored on a Nozemack assist with 13:34 left, but the Generals would blank the Eagles the rest of the way in the 19-8 decision.

Washington and Lee led in shots, 60-30, as well as ground balls, 38-24. The hosts won 19 of 31 faceoffs, and went 22-23 on clear opportunities. 

UMW was led by Nozemack's two goals and assist, while Cruz, Walker, and Newman each had a goal and an assist.

Sophomore goalie Riley Green made 19 saves for the Eagles, while senior Jamin Lane led with five ground balls.

The Eagles will return to action on Saturday when they host Virginia Wesleyan University at the Battleground at noon.