TIFFIN, Ohio -- It took just two games for the Allegheny men's lacrosse program to earn its first victory as the Gators scored an 18-8 win at Heidelberg on Saturday, Feb. 29.

For a consecutive game, the Gators turned an early goal into a 2-1 lead. Mack Nevin (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores) registered the first goal 1:16 into play and later assisted on a goal three minutes later by Zackery Devers (Kapolei, Hawaii/Kapolei), 2-1. The Student Princes closed the quarter with three-straight goals, however, to hold a 4-2 lead after the first 15:00.

The Gators went on to score 10 of the next 12 goals, including a 6-2 edge in the second quarter, building the lead to 12-6 at the 10:33-mark of the third quarter. Five goals during the streak were by Patrick Hogan (London, Ontario/St. Andre Bessett), who also assisted on another tally by Nevin. David Kraus (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) netted a pair during the rush, with Devers and Nick Jordan (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) also connecting. 

Heidelberg posted two of the next three goals to cut the margin to 13-8 with 6:14 to play in the third, but the Gators closed the game with five goals for the final margin of 18-8. Kraus scored the first two, Hogan the next two and Tim Wallis (Shady Side, Md./Southern) capped the points in the game with a man-down goal at 5:22 of the fourth quarter.

Allegheny trailed Heidelberg in total shots, 41-39, but held the edge in shots on goal by 24-19. Hogan finished with eight points on a team-high nine shots (seven on goal), while Krause was second across the board at five points, eight shots (six on goal). Kraus also topped the team with six ground balls. Devers and Nevin both added an assist for three points. After the six ground balls from Kraus, six Gators scooped three.

David Kratzenberg (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) started in cage and played the bulk of the minutes, making nine saves and earning the win.

Along with improving to 1-1 on the season, the Gators gave head coach Tommy Pearce his 86th career win (ninth season as a head coach) a total of 635 days after it was announced he would lead the program from its inception.

The Gators will return to action on Wednesday, March 4, traveling to Alliance, Ohio for a 7 p.m. meeting with Mount Union.