HAMDEN, Conn. – A.J. Alessi (Branford, Conn.) and Anthony Poerio (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.) scored two goals apiece, but the Quinnipiac men’s lacrosse team was defeated by Ohio State, 18-7, in the Great Western Lacrosse League opener for both teams. The loss is the Bobcats first of the year, dropping them to 6-1 overall. Ohio State improves to 5-3.

Gary Messina (West Islip, N.Y.), Jack Oppenheimer (Conoshocken, Pa.) and Sean Endicott (Malden, Mass.) also added goals for the Bobcats. Messina, Oppenheimer, Garret Kerr (Inglewood, Ontario) and Ben Mullaney (Norwalk, Conn.) added assists in the loss. Mullaney also had a game-high six ground balls.

Jeff Ryan, James Green, Peet Poillon and Mario Ventiquattro each contributed three goals for the Buckeyes. Joel Delgarno had a five-point game for Ohio State, tallying a goal and four assists. Delgarno’s four assists led to goals by four different Buckeyes.

After each team scored in the first four minutes, the Buckeyes scored 12 of the next 13 goals to take a commanding, 13-2 lead just nine seconds into the third period. The Bobcats couldn’t cut the deficit to any fewer than nine goals the rest of the way as Ohio State cruised to victory.

Quinnipiac goalies Kevin Benzing (Severna Park, Md.) and Ryan Andrews (Smithtown, N.Y.) each allowed nine goals and made five saves for the Bobcats. Benzing took his first loss of the season to drop his record to 6-1. Stefan Schroder made five saves in 45 minutes to earn the win and improve to 5-3 on the season.

The Bobcats return to action Wednesday, when they face intrastate rival Sacred Heart in the final non-conference game of the season. The opening face-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Fairfield, Conn.