Webber: Men’s Lacrosse Opens 2023 Season with Statement Win
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 21, 2023) – The Webber International University men’s lacrosse team opened its 2023 season with a non-conference, neutral-site showdown against Point University on Saturday afternoon at Cox Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. The Warriors showed why they finished 2022 as the No. 7 team in the NAIA with a dominant 26-5 victory over the Skyhawks.
The Warriors (1-0 overall) tied their highest scoring output in the three-year history of their program with 26 total goals. Webber scored 26 goals against the same team in the same stadium a year ago in a 26-7 victory over Point. It was also the largest margin of victory in team-history at a 21-goal difference. The Warriors won 25 of the 32 total face-offs and held the Skyhawks (0-1) to just five goals on 31 total shots.
Point drew first blood in the game on a solo goal after just 25 seconds, however, the Warriors would quickly respond. The first goal of the new season was scored by none other than last year’s Second-Team All-American selection, Chase Jackson. The flood gates quickly opened as Webber took control of the game, scoring six-straight unanswered goals. Two each from Jackson and freshman-attacker Jeremiah Loo and a goal each from Blake Nelson and Christian Tapia.
The Skyhawks were able to grab a few more goals here and there but the offensive prowess of the Warriors was just too much. Webber finished the game with 12 different goal-scorers while multiple players earned hat-tricks. 16 Warriors contributed with at least a point for the day.
Loo made an impressive collegiate-debut as he led the team in goals (5), assists (3), and points (8). He was followed by Jackson with four goals and an assist while also adding three ground balls. Both Houston Finlayson and freshman Nick Sheaffer tallied three goals and an assist each. Tapia and Nelson both pitched in with two goals and an assist each as well. Jack Cross netted two goals, scoring for the first time since March 1st, 2021 after missing the 2022 season. Nicholas Cordero, Sam Shields, and Logan Swartz all scored the first goals of their Webber careers while Dillon Ziemba added one as well. Hunter Scott did an excellent job from the spot, winning 17 of his 18 total face-off attempts and leading the team with 12 ground balls.
Next up, the Warriors will be traveling to Savannah, Georgia to face the SCAD-Savannah Bees on Saturday, February 4th at 1 p.m. Webber is 2-1 against SCAD all-time and have won the last two matchups.
