Albany, N.Y. – Senior midfielder Evan Kelly (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Aquinas Institute) registered a career-high six points to lead the top-ranked Le Moyne College men's lacrosse team to a 12-7 season-opening victory over sixth-ranked Adelphi University in non-conference action on Saturday night at the University at Albany's John Fallon Field.

The Dolphins opened the game's scoring on their first possession as Kelly netted his first goal of the evening with 12:11 to go.

Adelphi countered with the next two goals for its only lead of the contest. Following a save of an initial shot, Quentin O'Reilly scooped up the loose ball and tossed it into the net at the 8:48 mark. Joseph Duchnowski followed with his first goal as a Panther with 5:00 left.

Le Moyne regained the lead with a pair of goals in 30 seconds. In an extra-man situation, Kelly finished off a feed from fifth-year attackman Matt Hutchings (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus), a Tewaaraton Award watch list selection, with 3:42 to go. Kelly then completed his first-quarter hat trick with an unassisted tally with 3:12 left.

The Panthers evened the score at three apiece at the 13:15 mark of the second quarter as Lawrence Galizia scored in transition off a feed from fellow long-pole Sean McGovern.

The Dolphins regained control of the game with the last three goals of the half following a scoreless span of 15:26. Senior midfielder Ben McCreary (Cicero, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) put the Dolphins back in front with 2:46 left off a feed from Hutchings. Just 70 seconds later, graduate student attackman Jake Nelson (Charlotte, N.C./Vestal (N.Y.)/Binghamton/Mercer/Syracuse) tallied his first goal as a Dolphin after collecting a pass from Hutchings. Out of a timeout, junior midfielder John Bergan (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) finished off a pass from Kelly in an extra-man situation with 1:13 remaining.

Adelphi scored the first goal of the third quarter at the 13:31 mark as Gordon Purdie, Jr. tallied his 82nd career goal.

Le Moyne put the game away with the last four goals of the quarter. Junior attackman Kevin Sheehan (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) started the run just 45 seconds after Purdie's goal with a backhanded tally after collecting a feed on the crease from Nelson. Graduate student midfielder Ross Filtch (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus/Siena) gave the Dolphins an 8-4 lead 57 seconds later after receiving a pass from Kelly, who then put the Dolphins up by five with 4:29 remaining. Sheehan finished off the scoring in the quarter with 10.3 seconds left after taking a feed from Hutchings.

The Dolphins netted their fifth straight goal to start the scoring in the fourth quarter. Sheehan recorded his third goal of the contest with a nifty move on the left side of the crease after collecting a pass from behind from Nelson.

After being held scoreless for almost 17 minutes, Adelphi scored back-to-back goals to get back within five. Jack Hipchen scored with 11:35 left off a pass from Duchnowski and Angelo Caiazzo followed at the 10:07 off a feed from James Hall.

Nelson pushed Le Moyne's lead back to six with 5:38 remaining after receiving a pass from Hutchings, his career best-tying fifth helper of the game.

Duchnowski completed the scoring in the game with 3:24 left in the contest.

Redshirt senior goalkeeper Riley Smith (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker/Onondaga C.C.) earned his 21st win as a Dolphin with 14 saves, his second-most in the green and white, including eight in the first quarter. Kevin Rice turned away 13 shots in the setback, including six in the second quarter. Junior face-off specialist Sam Kury (Oakdale, Conn./Montville) went 16-of-23 at the center dot and scooped up a game-high five ground balls.
 
Le Moyne (1-0), which had its latest start to the season in over 20 seasons, opens Northeast-10 Conference play back in the Capital District on Wednesday at The College of Saint Rose at 4:00 p.m.