CANTON, Ohio - The Malone University men's lacrosse team dropped its season home opener to the William Jewell College Cardinals, 18-5. The Pioneers start the season 0-1, and the Cardinals improve to 3-0.
 
Malone started the game off slowly as William Jewell had a 5-0 run in the first quarter. The Pioneers struggled to control possession as they had seven turnovers and went 33% (1-for-3) on clears in the first period.
 
In the second quarter, Ramsey Burnard scored Malone's first goal of the season at 11:39, but the Cardinals answered back with a six-goal run and made the score 11-1 at halftime. William Jewell outshot the Pioneers 16-6 with nine of the Cardinals' attempts on-goal.
 
The third quarter was no different for the Pioneers as Burnard found the five-hole to cut William Jewell's lead 11-2 with 13:24 left. The Cardinals went on another offensive run as they scored four unanswered goals to extend their lead to 15-2. Despite Malone trailing significantly, the team managed a 100% clearing rate (6-for-6) in the third period.
 
John Mautz III found a goal off a Florida hitch at 8:45 left in the fourth quarter to give the Pioneers a new face on the board. Dominic Robbins and Burnard both had a goal under the six-minute mark, but the Cardinals came out with an 18-5 victory.                                  
 
Malone struggled the whole game with possession as they had a total of 29 turnovers, 14 caused by William Jewell. The Cardinals outshot the Pioneers 52-20 and dominated in groundballs, 35-14. Despite the Pioneers' struggles, Burnard finished the game with three goals, Ty McCort went 11-19 at the face-off, and the second half goalie, Andy Lopez, had a 50% (7-for-14) save rate. Starting goalie Zach Johnson (0-1) was credited with five saves.
 
The Malone men's lacrosse team looks to regroup as they host the Roberts Wesleyan University Redhawks on February 16 at 4:00 P.M.