NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Capital University men's lacrosse team (0-1, 0-0 OAC) got their season underway on Saturday against Bridgewater (1-0, 0-0 ODAC) in their first game of the Music City Classic hosted by Sewanee in Nashville, Tennessee. Despite outshooting the Eagles 42-35 (24-16 SOG), the Comets would come in two goals behind at 7-9.

Jacob Poole got the season going with the first goal at about two minutes in, giving Cap their lone lead of the game. From there, Bridgewater would respond with two in the quarter and take a 2-1 lead into the first break. Max Schillig scored  (assisted by Elliott Rhoton) to tie it at 2-2 to start the second quarter, but once again the Eagles responded with a goal of their own to pull back ahead 3-2. Next it was Landon Weihl with the first of his career (assisted by Poole) to bring it back even at 3-3. Bridgewater would end the half with two-straight, taking a 5-3 lead into the locker room.

Bridgewater would strike again to start the third quarter, taking their lead to three before Charlie Howenstine brought it back down to two about 40 seconds later. Those being the only goals of the quarter, the two sides stood at 6-4 heading into the final 15 minutes. The fourth quarter was the highest scoring frame of the game with six combined scores including five in the first five minutes, starting with the Eagles grabbing the first two goals and taking an 8-4 advantage. CU would follow suit with a pair from Mason Spaulding (the second assisted by Howenstine) to take the deficit back down to two, 8-6. Bridgewater would end that combined five-goal run exactly at the 10-minute mark with their final goal of the game to bring their total to nine. The Purple and White would only be able to salvage one score in the final 10 minutes, coming from Howenstine, ending the game at 9-7.

COMET NEWCOMERS
Six Comets made their Capital debuts with Tyler Carney, Landon Weihl, Elliott Rhoton, Noah Musick, Leelan Durham, and Logan Ensign suiting up in the Purple and White for the first time.

THE NUMBERS
Charlie Howenstine was the points-leader for the Comets, scoring two goals and dishing out one assist for a total of three. 

Mason Spaulding grabbed two points off of two goals, adding a ground ball and a caused turnover.

Jacob Poole had a two-point performance as well with one goal and one assist, grabbing three ground balls as well.

Landon Weihl and Max Schillig would wrap up the goalscorers list, with one goal apiece and Weihl's being the first score of his career. Schillig scooped up four ground balls and caused two turnovers while Weihl had three GBs and one CT.

Elliott Rhoton tallied his first career point with an assist.

Freddy Noday took the majority of the faceoff responsibilities, winning 14-of-16 and scooping up seven ground balls. Tyler Lieu took the remaining three, winning two.

Gino Nave led the defensive efforts for CU, causing five turnovers and picking up six ground balls.

Jordan Marty (2 CT, 1 GB), Mason Patrick (1 CT, 1 GB), Eric Patterson (3 GB), Colton Woods (3 GB), Ty Chase (2 GB), Ian Zaletel (2), Dylan Christopherson (2 GB), and Logan Ensign (1 GB) were responsible for the remainder of the hustle stats for the Comets.

Tyler Carney (0-1) and Luc Kadlic split time in the cage. Carney made his first start for CU and played the majority of the gave, collecting seven saves in the losing decision. Kadlic would come in for the final seconds.

UP NEXT
The Comets return for game two tomorrow, taking on hosts Sewanee at 12:30 p.m. CST.