NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College men's lacrosse team powered to a 17-6 victory in its home opener against UMass Boston on a chilly Tuesday night at Silfen Field.

Conn (1-1 overall) turned in an impressive performance against the preseason favorite to win the Little East Conference. The Camels, who got out to a 4-0 lead and never trailed, had six players net multiple goals. JJ Ford (Clinton, Conn.) paved the way with four goals and an assist, and goalie Will Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) made 12 saves en route to his first win of the season.

The opening quarter belonged to Conn, as goals by Liam Horkan (Malden, Mass.) and Jared Rainville (Watertown, Conn.) gave the hosts an early advantage. Ford and Graydon Diamond (New Canaan, Conn.) added to the margin in the first four minutes of the second period, and it wasn't until midway through the stanza that Gavin Admirand (Marshfield, Mass.) got the Beacons on the scoreboard on an extra-man opportunity.

Horkan completed his first-half hat trick with back-to-back scores to extend the lead to 6-1. Although UMass Boston added three more goals in the final 2:51 of the half—including another EMO tally by Admirand—Conn took an 8-4 lead into the intermission.

The Camels slammed the door shut in the second half, outscoring the Beacons by a 9-2 margin. Ford scored three times in the half while Patrick Atkins (Topsfield, Mass.) and Jack Tenzer (Charlotte, N.C.) each added a pair of tallies.

Rainville finished with two assists to go with his two goals. Bobby Chang (South Salem, N.Y.) also potted a pair of scores on the night. 

Conn held a 65-27 edge in total shots and a 52-28 advantage in ground balls. Nick McLaughlin (Wilbraham, Mass.) scooped up a game-high seven ground balls, and Jason Fastiggi (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) went 12-for-17 at the faceoff spot. Zach Bucher (Verona, N.J.) paced the defense with four caused turnovers.

Conn College will next host Middlebury College on Saturday, March 11 at noon.