The Wabash lacrosse team rode an 8-0 lead over the first 19 minutes of its opening contest of the season at Mount St. Joseph, defeating the host Lions by a score of 23-8.
 
The Little Giants (1-0) picked up an early 2-0 edge on back-to-back goals by freshman AJ Rogers. Joseph Plencner added his first goal of the season six minutes into the game to put Wabash up 3-0. Senior AJ Shaheen, who led the Little Giants with seven goals on the afternoon, put his first of back-to-back goals in the net in the final six minutes of the first period. Evan Schiefelbein added one more goal for Wabash to put the team in front 6-0 at the end of the first.
 
Wabash added six more goals in the second period to answer a six-goal output from Mount St. Joseph (0-1) for a 12-6 halftime score. The Little Giants got goals from Plencner, Anthony Nguyen, Ethan Stonis, Jeremiah Eaton, and Shaheen. Caulin Fitzgerald finished the period with a goal in the final 26 seconds of the period to maintain the six-point advantage.
 
Shaheen blistered the net for three quick goals to open the third period and give the Little Giants a 15-6 lead. Plencner scored two more goals and Fitzgerald added his second for an 18-7 Wabash advantage heading into the final 15 minutes of the game.
 
Nguyen scored his second collegiate goal to begin the final period and start a final five-goal run by the Little Giants. Nguyen scored his third goal of the game along with goals by Shaheen, Eaton, and Plencner to close out the game for the victory.
 
Rogers led the Little Giants with three assists to go with two goals. Fitzgerald added two assists, as did Stonis. Stonis scooped up a team-high eight ground balls, while Schiefelbein finished with seven.  AJ Miller led the team with four caused turnovers. Calvin Pawlowski forced three.
 
John Frey recorded five saves to earn the win in goal for the Little Giants.
 
Wabash outshot the Lions 54-24 and were 2-of-5 in extra-man opportunities. The Little Giants committed only 13 turnovers compared to 25 for Mount St. Joseph. Wabash recorded 20 successful clears on 22 attempts.
 
The Little Giants return to action on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Anderson University.