Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.- A hat trick from reigning CACC Rookie of the Year, P.J. Saracino, highlighted Georgian Court University's fifth-ever men's lacrosse opener as the two-time defending conference champions made their 2020 debut with a 19-8 loss at #10 Mercy College.

After a back-and-forth first period that ended with the Mavericks leading 6-3, Saracino kicked off the second frame with his second tally of the game to make it 6-4 home team with 14:24 to go before the break. Mercy proceeded to pepper the GCU net for seven straight scores (and 12 of the next 14) to take an insurmountable 18-6 lead with 9:19 remaining in regulation.

Five players registered two or more goals for the victors, led by Brady Kearnan (So.-Courtace, Ontario) and his six scoring efforts (two assists). Marty Shargel (Jr.-Agoura Hills, Calif.) followed with four tallies of his own while Dominic Scorica (Jr.-Franklin Square, N.Y.) (three goals, two assists) and TJ Heyder (Fr.-Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) (two goals, three assists) provided five points apiece in the non-conference victory.

Randy Collins opened his junior campaign with two goals for the royal and gold while Daniel Burnham, Thomas Heegan, and Brandon Lewis netted one apiece. Mercy (2-0) out-shot its guest by a 46-27 margin (35-19 on frame).

Thomas Umano (So.-Seaford, N.Y.) collected the goalkeeping triumph,grabbing five total saves in 30:00 of action. Austin Geissel, the CACC Player of the Year, suffered the setback having registered 11 saves in his 45:00 of work.

Georgian Court (0-1) gets back to action this Tuesday with a 3:00 p.m. scheduled visit to #18 New York Tech (1-0) in Old Westbury, N.Y.