A week after Mercer and Bellarmine broke the seal on the 2022 NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse season and less than 24 hours after Duke’s Brennan O’Neill foreshadowed what could be a sensational sophomore campaign, a semi-full slate of games entertained fans Saturday.

Here’s what went down.

DENVER EKES PAST UTAH

Denver and Utah met in a one-goal thriller at the beginning of the 2021 season. The two teams reunited in Rice-Eccles Stadium — and a similar game ensued.

The Pioneers found timely goals and held Utah scoreless on its final possession with seconds remaining, holding on for the 14-13 season-opening victory in Salt Lake City.

DENVER SURVIVES. ⛏@DU_MLAX holds on in the final seconds to down @UtahLacrosse 14-13.

Sullivan/Sillstrop: 4G each pic.twitter.com/TfxfCbZA9W

— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) February 5, 2022

Ted Sullivan and JJ Sillstrop each had four goals to lift Denver to the narrow win.

Jordan Hyde’s lethal shooting helped Utah get off to a fast start, but Sullivan answer with a pair of his own to help Denver maintain an 8-6 lead at halftime. The Utes scored four goals out of halftime to take their first two-goal lead, but Denver answered with its own four-goal run to erase the deficit for good.

Alex Simmons scored two fourth-quarter goals, including a behind-the-back tally off a pass from Johnny Marrocco to push the lead to 13-11. Utah scored two of the final three goals, but Koa Todd’s shot flew wide in the final seconds to clinch the Denver victory.

A NEW NO. 1 IN COLLEGE PARK

Maryland fans were greeted by a familiar sight at Capital One Stadium.

The offense excelled running through No. 1.

But instead of Tewaaraton Award winner Jared Bernhardt, it was his former running mate, Logan Wisnauskas, who paced the Terrapins’ attack while donning Bernhardt’s former number.

A fifth-year senior and USA Lacrosse Magazine preseason second-team All-American, Wisnauskas registered eight points on five goals and three assists as Maryland cruised past reigning Southern Conference champion High Point 21-13.

Wisnauskas added to his record at Maryland for the most games with at least eight points. Saturday marked his sixth.

Asked earlier this week on PressBox Sports’ Glenn Clark Radio Show about Maryland’s offense in the post-Bernhardt era, coach John Tillman replied, “I would say [a] balanced approach, but a lot of Logan influence with and without the ball.”

The Terrapins lived up to that description. Eight other players besides Wisnauskas scored, most notably Keegan Khan (four goals, two assists), Owen Murphy (four goals) and Jonathan Donville (two goals). All are transfers. Khan (Villanova) and Donville (Cornell) are both fifth-year seniors and fit seamlessly into Bobby Benson’s offense. Murphy, who’s listed as a sophomore, transferred from John Hopkins after not competing during the 2021 season.

“You owe it to the program to find ways to make the program better and to put our best foot forward,” Tillman said on Glenn Clark Radio. “When you are looking at those players, you’re not just looking at talent. You’re looking at what else they bring to the table.”

Keegan Khan made the most of his @TerpsMLax debut. pic.twitter.com/Z1nrJ2A0zS

— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) February 5, 2022

Wisnauskas had a hat trick in the first half as Maryland jumped out to a 9-5 lead. Despite one goal and six assists from Asher Nolting and five goals from Brayden Mayea, High Point couldn’t keep pace. The Terrapins remain in College Park next weekend to face Loyola on Saturday while the Panthers have their home opener next Friday against Colgate.

CAVS CONTINUE WINNING WAYS

Virginia’s quest for a three-peat began with a 3-0 deficit to Air Force after the first quarter.

Unlike the Cavaliers’ thrilling 17-16 NCAA championship win last Memorial Day over Maryland, the drama was short-lived.

Virginia’s starting attack of Connor Shellenberger, Matt Moore and Payton Cormier combined for 18 points in the 21-11 season opening victory.

THE CHAMPS IN THE WIN COLUMN. @UVAMensLax shrugs off an early deficit to down @AF_Lax 21-11. pic.twitter.com/jfjWZbMksK

— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) February 5, 2022

Shellenberger continued his torrid pace from last year’s postseason with two goals and five assists. Cormier scored four times and Moore contributed four points on a goal and three assists.

Senior midfielder Xander Dickson, who impressed throughout the fall, also scored four goals. The Cavaliers outshot Air Force 51-31.

Virginia opened the second quarter on a three-goal run, during which highly touted freshman Griffin Shutz scored the first goal of his career. The Cavaliers scored 10 goals in the second quarter alone. Freshman goalie Matthew Nunes made five saves in the first half and finished with eight in his first collegiate game.

HOPKINS SURVIVES HOME OPENER

The pep band was back, second-year Johns Hopkins coach Peter Milliman got his first win at Homewood Field in front of fans and the Blue Jays never trailed in an 11-8 win over Jacksonville.

The Dolphins twice tied the score in the second quarter, each time after goals by Tufts transfer Max Waldbaum. Leading 6-5 at halftime, Johns Hopkins tightened up its defense in the second half, allowing only three goals.

After a breakout season at attack last year, Connor DeSimone continued to quarterback the Blue Jays’ offense and finished with three goals and one assist.

Connor DeSimone in mid season form.

He goes for goals to lead @jhumenslacrosse to the 11-8 win over @JAX_MLAX. pic.twitter.com/58nLjCJX8g

— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) February 5, 2022

Graduate student midfielder Jack Keogh (two goals, three assists) was the only other multi-goal scorer for Hopkins. Josh Kirson got the start in the cage and made eight saves in his first game action since suffering a season ending injury last spring against Rutgers.

Waldbaum led the Dolphins’ spirited effort with four goals, including a highlight-reel backhand finish in the third quarter. Luke Millican made 17 saves (60.7 save percentage) in the loss.

NOTABLE

• Mount St. Mary’s upset Navy 11-9 in Annapolis on the back of 21 saves by sophomore Griffin McGinley. The Mount’s junior attackman Cormac Giblin led all scorers with five goals.

  MOUNT UPSET NAVY IN ANNAPOLIS @MountMLacrosse gets saves from Griffin McGinley to pull off the big 11-9 victory. pic.twitter.com/8bVuTFS4FL

  — USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) February 5, 2022

• Penn transfer Mitch Bartolo made a statement in his first game at Rutgers. The 6-foot-6 attackman scored five goals and added one assist in the Scarlet Knights’ 15-6 win over LIU.

• Jack Myers scored five goals and added three assists to lead Ohio State to an 18-7 win over Detroit Mercy. The Buckeyes trailed 4-3 early, but never looked back after a three-goal run late in the first quarter. North Carolina transfer Caton Johnson got his first start at Ohio State and made eight saves while allowing six goals in the win.

• Life without Charlie Kitchen got off to a smooth start for Delaware, thanks in large part to six goals, on six shots, and three assists from junior attackman Mike Robinson. The 2021 CAA Rookie of the Year continued to show why he’s one of the most reliable scoring threats in the nation, as the Blue Hens rolled past NJIT 19-9.

• Bucknell got six goals from freshman attackman Connor Davis and five assists from freshman midfielder Cam Doolan to help take down Mercer 16-14. Davis punctuated a four-goal run that broke open the game after it was tied 12-12 early in the fourth quarter. Mercer attackman Sean Goldsmith had four goals and three assists in the loss.

HOW THE NIKE/USAL TOP 20 FARED

No. 1 Virginia defeated Air Force 21-11
No. 2 Maryland defeated High Point 21-13
No. 3 Duke defeated Robert Morris 21-12 (Friday)
No. 10 Rutgers defeated LIU 15-6
No. 12 Denver defeated Utah 14-13
No. 15 Johns Hopkins defeated Jacksonville 11-8
No. 16 Delaware defeated NJIT 19-9

FULL SCOREBOARD

Bucknell 16, Mercer 14
No. 16 Delaware 19, NJIT 9
No. 12 Denver 14, Utah 13
No. 15 Johns Hopkins 11, Jacksonville 8
No. 2 Maryland 21, High Point 13
Michigan 22, Bellarmine 13
Mount St. Mary’s 11, Navy 9
Penn State 20, Lafayette 15
Providence 16, Holy Cross 9
Ohio State 18, Detroit Mercy 7
No. 10 Rutgers 15, LIU 6
No. 1 Virginia 21, Air Force 11