WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College men's lacrosse team jump-started 2016 with a huge 11-9 victory over Div. II Westminster (UT) College at Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon.

The Poets continue to look good after back-to-back victories over Arizona St. (10-8), and Concordia (22-7) in their earlier scrimmage and exhibition contests.

Both the Poets and Griffins started the contest off slowly combining for six goals in the opening period.  Chris Burley (San Diego, Calif.) got the scoring started on the Poets opening possession and would then feed Ian Leek (Valley Center, Calif.) soon after that put WC on top 2-0.

The Griffins would answer with two of their own that tied the game up but Nick Hernandez (San Diego, Calif.) would come down and add his first of the game with 1:04 to play that put Whittier back on top.  With just seconds left in the period, the Griffins came away with the equalizer coming from Kolton Atkinson and that again evened things at 3-3.

In the second stanza it was all Westminster outscoring WC 4-2 to take a 7-5 lead into the half.  The Poets two goals came from Jonathan Kassity (San Clemente, Calif.) and Aaron Self (San Clemente, Calif.).

In the third, a new Poets team came alive.  The defensive unit stood strong holding the Griffins to just one goal, while Burley and Kassity (2) would add three straight that tied the game up at 8-8 heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth, the defense stayed strong once again holding Westminster to just one goal, while Kassity added a man-up tally, being joined by Self and Maxwell Jones (Fircrest, WA) who secured the win with strikes.

Alex Cramer (Rock Hill, CT) remains untouched on the season picking up double digit saves with 14 against 23 shots.

Kassity led the offense with four goals and four groundballs.  Burley had two along with Self and Leek and Jones combined for five assists. 

Scott Pescheret (Eagan, MN) got the Poets quality possessions down the stretch finishing 13-24 on face-offs. 

Whittier peppered Griffin goalie Phillip Cannell between the posts unloading with 45 shots, was 1-3 on man-ups, had 33 groundballs, and was 12-16 on clear attempts.              

Whittier returns to action tonight, Monday, March 7 when they host Wentworth College beginning at 4:00pm.