SALISBURY, Md.– Eastern University Men's Lacrosse opened the year with a 22-3 road loss to the second-ranked Salisbury University Sea Gulls. Nick Litzenberger scored all three Eastern goals in the loss.

Head Coach Colin Piper knew that opening on the road against the 13-time National Champions would prove to be a test. Last year's Salisbury team won its first 21 games before falling in overtime in the National quarterfinals.

The Sea Gulls went up a man early and converted for a 1-0 lead 90 seconds into the season. The hosts played make-it-take-it and went up 4-0 before three minutes had passed. The fourth Salisbury goal was also man-up.

Litzenberger broke the string with his first of the year with 11:34 on the clock. Salisbury put together another run of four to lead 8-1 with 6:42 to play in the first. The two teams traded empty possessions through the rest of the first quarter.

"Playing a team like that," Head Coach Colin Piper said after the game, "you know when you have made a mistake. They capitalize on opportunities. I was pleased with the way we came together and kept battling even after the slow start. We can use this as an opportunity to get better and to prepare for games against other ranked teams on our schedule and in our league."

The Eagles fired 28 shots in the game. Litzenberger scored on half of his six attempts. Frankie Fanelli and Brett Gougler picked up assists in the game. For Fanelli, it was his first college point, and for Gougler, a transfer from Cabrini, it was his first as an Eagle.

Zachary Klym made 19 stops before giving way to Ben Connolly early in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles (0-1) will open the home portion of their schedule next Saturday with a game against the DeSales University Bulldogs. That game will be the first Men's Lacrosse game played at the Radnor Street Road facility.