WILSON, N.C. - The Palm Beach Atlantic men's lacrosse team opened up the 2020 campaign with a 12-9 victory over Barton this afternoon. The Sailfish are in their third season as a varsity program at PBA and looking to build on their 6-10 record last season. 

The Sailfish were up 3-2 after the first period with goals from Austin Evans, Henry Sloyan, and Nick Whelan. The standout of the first quarter was goalkeeper Lee Rowden who recorded six saves to hold down the Bulldog attack and keep the Sailfish in front through the first 15 minutes. 

PBA came out and won the game by dominating play in the second quarter where they outscored 5-1. The Sailfish went on a stretch from the end of the first quarter through the second where they scored six unanswered goals to take an 8-2 lead. They would eventually concede a goal from Barton's Seth Mandryk to break the scoring run and go to the half with the Sailfish leading 8-3. 

PBA preseason All-American honoree defender Gunner Gebelein would start the third quarter with a goal to put the 'Fish up six. Along with the goal, Gebelein led the team in ground balls with seven and caused turnovers with three. The Sailfish out shot the Bulldogs 36-26 through three quarters and looked to be on their way to an easy opening day victory until Barton scored three goals in a row to cut the Sailfish lead to three with just under five minutes remaining. 

A goal by Grady Dipeso with three minutes left ended up being the dagger in the Bulldogs comeback attempt. The Bulldogs would score one more late but the Sailfish were able to hold on to the three goal victory. 

The Sailfish had four players lead them in scoring with two goals in Zach Holmes, Nick Whelan, Austin Evans, and Henry Sloyan. Goalkeeper Lee Rowden finished the game with 16 saves on 25 Barton shots on goal. PBA was 21-of-24 on clearing attempt, but were only able to win 9-of-24 faceoff attempts for the game. 

The Sailfish will look to build on the momentum of their opening game victory when they return home to face a ranked Queens team for their home opener on Feb. 22 at the Rinker Athletic Campus.