SALEM, Mass. - UMass Boston Men's Lacrosse lit up the scoreboard on Saturday afternoon. The Beacons saw goals from 13 different players including five with hat tricks en route to a dominant 32-6 victory over Salem State University.

THE BASICS
UMass Boston 32, Salem State University 6

UMass Boston (6-2, 1-0 LEC)
Salem State University (4-3, 0-1 LEC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite the numbers on the scoreboard at the end of the game, UMass Boston found themselves trailing in the opening moments of their Little East Conference opener. Luke Murphy got the scoring started, but an ensuing 4-1 run from the Vikings put the Beacons in a 4-2 hole with 4:15 to play in the first.

A pair of players with a combined three games of experience on the season, Tadas Baltaduonis and Brayden MacLean, ripped off back-to-back goals to pull the Beacons even on the scoreboard. MacLean's score, scored with a player down, knotted the game at 4-4 heading into the second quarter.

Staying hot after closing out the first quarter, MacLean racked up his second goal, second assist, and third goal of the afternoon in the opening minute of the second period. Helping out on both of his goals was Sean Daly, who needed just 16 minutes to record a season-high three apples.

After flipping a 4-2 deficit into a 7-4 lead, the Beacons were off and running. The 17th minute of the game saw Carson Meczywor and Murphy rip of back-to-back unassisted scores. The 19th saw MacLean rip the net two more times for a five-goal game, matching his total from his freshman season at Assumption University.

Zach Mann put the finishing touches on the first half for the Beacons, splashing four goals in a span of less than two minutes to stretch the lead from 14-5 to 18-5 at the intermission.

The Vikings went on to score just once in the second half, securing a season low in goals allowed for the Beacons' goalkeeping unit. Four different netminders combined for the dominant performance including James Boldy, who earned the victory, and Otto Kirleis, who kept Salem State off the board for the entire third quarter.

BY THE NUMBERS

• UMass Boston finished the game on a 30-2 scoring run
• The Beacons came up just shy of program records for goals scored in a game (33) and margin of victory (31) set in last year's 33-2 victory over the Vikings
• MacLean (5), Mann (5), Patrick Dwinnells (4), Cameron Noyes (3), and Greg Wolff (3) were all credited with a hat trick against Salem State
• The Beacons secured 35 of their 42 faceoffs, including an 11-11 performance in the circle for Jeffrey Russo
• Patrick Carey scooped 10 ground balls
  • Salem State finished the game with 12
• The Beacons have won seven straight matchups with the Vikings and have outscored them 95-17 in the last three meetings

WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will look to avenge a loss in last year's season opener when they host non-conference opponent Salve Regina at James Cotter Field on Tuesday, March 26. That game will be played under the lights at 7 PM.