Sparkill, N.Y. - In its opening game of the 2023 season, the St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Lacrosse team fell to American International College, 17-8, on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Field.

STAC falls to 0-1 on the young season, while AIC (1-0) gets its first win of the campaign.

Eight Spartans were involved in goals, as freshman Ryan Christensen tallied three times, with junior Braiden Struss and freshman Matthew DeRosa finding the back of the cage twice and sophomore John Pena scoring once.
 
Senior Craig Peavy (L,0-1) and freshman Connor Reed split time in the net. Peavy made eight saves in just over 24 minutes and Reed came up with six saves in 36 minutes of action.
 
Freshmen Austin Palen (6 ground balls) and Daniel Smith (5 ground balls) led the STAC defense. In addition, Palen won 15-of-23 faceoffs, while Smith caused two turnovers.

AIC was led offensively by Rusty Stone, who posted eight goals on the afternoon. Yellow Jackets goalies Hayden Gaudettte (W, 1-0) and Ben Fitzsimmons combined to stop 13 of 21 shots faced.

STAC returns to action on Wednesday, March 1, when the Spartans visit Felician University, with the opening faceoff set for 7:00 p.m. at the Lyndhurst Recreation Complex in New Jersey.