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Lourdes overcame a slow start to the season late Wednesday evening before scoring 11 unanswered goals on the way to a 13-4 victory over Cleary inside the Legacy Center in Brighton, Mich.
 
Danny Benson (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View H.S.) scored four times in his collegiate debut while Mark O'Bryant (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights H.S.) also had a four-point game, scoring once while handing out three assists.
 
"It was great to get out onto the field again and compete," head coach Patrick Yannarelli said following the contest.  "The younger guys played hard throughout and the leadership was able to keep us focused when needed."
 
Lourdes started slowly, as the Cougars took advantage of a pair of first quarter penalties to score the game's first two goals just over five minutes into the contest.
 
Lourdes took control late in the quarter and into the second.  Chad Causley (Clinton Township, Mich./L'Anse Creuse H.S.) put the Gray Wolves on the board with 4:45 to play in the first before Greg Johanning (Tivertson, R.I./Tivertson H.S.) scored the first of two goals to tie the game at the 9:08 mark of the second.  Benson's first goal of the day gave Lourdes the lead for good just 38 seconds later.
 
The Gray Wolves built a 6-2 lead by halftime and extended the lead to 9-2 after three quarters, blanking Cleary in both the second and third stanzas.  Jake Noel's (Knoxville, Tenn./William Blout H.S.) third goal of the game increased the lead to 11-2 before Cleary found the back of the cage again with 6:32 remaining in the contest. 
 
On the night, Lourdes finished with a 58-23 shot advantage, including a 36-13 edge on goal.  Johanning, who finished with an assist in addition to his two goals, tallied a team-high 13 shots, while Benson fired off 11 shots, 10 of which were saved.  Collin Miller (Royal Oak, Mich./Shrine Catholic H.S.) and Cory Campbell (Dayton, Ohio/Bellbrook H.S.) each added a goal for the Gray Wolves.
 
Lourdes dominated the faceoff X, winning 19-of-21 draws on the night.  Noel was 13-of-14.  In addition, Lourdes held a 44-16 advantage in ground balls, led by eight from both Miller ad Noel.  Jared Huiskens (Bay City, Mich./Central H.S.) made nine saves in goal, playing the first 53:28 to earn the win.
 
Peter Nichols scored twice to lead Cleary (0-2) while Jacob Landsparger made 23 saves in the cage.
 
"Cleary played hard and pushed our guys the entire game," Yannarelli added.  "We're looking forward to practice and working every day to get better."
 
Lourdes (1-0), which improved to 5-0 all-time in season openers, will have 10 days off before heading to Athens, Tenn. to battle Tennessee Wesleyan on March 3.  The opening faceoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Soccer Field.