KING'S POINT, N.Y. - Graduate student midfielder Tyler Starrett (Redding, Conn.) tallied a game-high six points with five goals and one assist to propel the Western Connecticut State University men's lacrosse team to a 17-12 victory at non-conference opponent United States Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday afternoon.

Junior attackman Julian Duque (Mastic, N.Y.) tickled the twine four times, while rookie attackman Cody Suhr (Holbrook, N.Y.) chipped in with two goals and two assists. Graduate student Jonathan Russack-Baker won 20-of-32 faceoff attempts to go along with a game-high 15 ground balls for the Wolves. 

William Badeer led USMMA with four goals and one helper, while Jack DeTommaso registered two goals and a game-high three assists. Owen Behr also added a hat trick.

The Mariners opened the scoring less than a minute into play when Badeer fired home his first of the contest. Shortly thereafter, the Wolves raced off to a 6-0 run. Junior middie Peter Traina (East Moriches, N.Y.) sparked the spurt before Starrett earned his hat trick, unassisted, early in the second quarter, giving the visitors a 6-1 advantage. The hosts countered to find the back of the net three consecutive occasions, slicing the lead to 6-4. But WestConn retaliated with yet another barrage. This time a 6-1 run gave them a 12-5 halftime advantage. Duque put the finishing touches on the run off a nifty feed from Suhr.

It wasn't all smooth sailing for the hosts in the second half. USMMA tallied five of the six goals in the third stanza, shrinking the gap to 13-10 heading into the fourth. The Wolves maintained their composure, outscoring the hosts 4-2 in the final period to escape with the 17-12 win. Russack-Baker rounded out the scoring for WestConn, following yet another quick faceoff win and scoop. His stellar play at the X proved to be the difference maker. 

Wolves senior goalkeeper Brendan Grove (Cheshire, Conn.) put forth another solid effort with 13 saves, while USMMA had a pair of netminders split time in between the pipes. They combined to stop eight shots.

With the victory, WestConn improved to 2-1 overall while the Mariners dropped to 1-1. The Wolves return to action when they host non-league foe Russell Sage College on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.