Lourdes opened its 2024 lacrosse season on Saturday afternoon with a 13-9 victory on the road over Alma at Bahkle Field in Alma, Mich.
 
After surrendering the first goal of the game, Lourdes responded with the next three goals and never trailed the rest of the way.  Hayden Barber (Temperance, Mich./Bedford H.S.) tied the game at one and a pair of Caden Louthan (Dripping Springs, Texas/Dripping Springs H.S.) tallied put Lourdes in front 3-1.
 
Alma tied the game at three before a Kalani Hale (Charleston, W. Va./Capital H.S.) goal put the Gray Wolves back in front.  The Scots would add one more tally before halftime to tie the game at four after 15 minutes.
 
Lourdes started the second quarter with a 3-0 scoring run as Hale, Jack Durham (Zeeland, Mich./East H.S.), and Darin Briscoe (St. Catherine, Jamaica/Kingston College) each found the back of the cage.  The Gray Wolves would take a 7-5 lead into halftime.
 
Mario Manzardo's (Highland, Mich./Lakeland H.S.) first collegiate goal started the second half scoring before the Scots scored back-to-back goals to pull within one with 5:25 to play in the third.  A 4-0 spurt spanning the quarter break allowed Lourdes to regain control.  Jake Busta (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad H.S.) started the scoring while Louthan, Briscoe, and Hale all added tallies as well.  Garrett Boersma (Norco, Calif./Norco H.S.) closed out the scoring for the Gray Wolves late.
 
Louthan had two assists for a five-point game while Barber added three helpers as he and Hale each had four points on the day.
 
Dique Reid (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East H.S.) won 18-of-24 faceoffs on the afternoon and led the team with eight ground balls while Collin Brutlag (Sylvania, Ohio/Southview H.S.) caused three turnovers.
 
In goal, Xander Slate (Stockton, Calif./Saint Mary's H.S.) made his collegiate debut, stopping eight shots for the win.
 
Nico Candela led Alma (0-3) with six goals while Thomas Burns made 11 stops between the posts.
 
Lourdes (1-0) will return to the field on Monday afternoon with a trip to Mount Vernon, Ohio to face Mount Vernon Nazarene.  The opening faceoff is set for 4 p.m. at CH4 Stadium.