STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – The Franciscan University Barons pushed out to an early lead and registered a wire-to-wire victory over the Washington & Jefferson College men's lacrosse team on Saturday. The Barons claimed victory by a 17-6 margin over the Presidents in the Presidents' Athletic Conference match at Trinity Health Systems Field in Ohio. 

The loss drops W&J to 2-3 in the PAC and 3-8 overall. Franciscan is 2-3 in the conference and 9-5 overall. 
 
Despite scores from Zach Mey (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) and Carter Watts (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown Area) in the first quarter, W&J trailed by a 5-2 margin. 
 
A low-scoring second quarter on both sides ended with the Barons in front by a 7-3 score. Aiden Herman (West End, N.C./Pinecrest) netted the lone W&J goal during the second. 
 
Paul Shook (Camp Hill, Pa./Trinity) opened the third quarter scoring as the Presidents closed the deficit to three. However, the Barons scored the final four goals of the third to effectively put the game out of reach at 11-4. 
 
Franciscan registered its highest scoring quarter of the game with six goals in the fourth. Herman and Ronin Keane (Medford, Mass./Arlington Catholic) scored in the final stanza for W&J. 

Herman was the lone President to score multiple goals. Keane led the Presidents with seven ground ball pickups. Keane won 10-of-23 face-off attempts. 
 
Austin Hopkins (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) and Anthony DeLuca (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) had six ground balls apiece. Nathan Petrarco and Braden Petrarco both caused three turnovers. 

Henry Beardwood (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) started and made 10 saves in the loss. 

W&J returns to action at Westminster College on Wednesday, April 17. Start time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in New Wilmington, Pa.