INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 20 UIndy men's lacrosse team (1-0) won its season opener for the first time since 2016 on Friday evening at Key Stadium, downing Wheeling Jesuit (0-1) for the third straight year. The Greyhounds are now 3-1 all-time against the Cardinals.
 
Freshman Drew Billig made a statement in his debut, scoring five times in the win and adding an assist. Senior Parker Kump also tallied five goals, adding to his program-best total.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Billig put UIndy on the scoreboard at the 10:08 mark of the first quarter and the team never looked back. The Hounds scored the first five goals of the contest, and nine of the first 10, with Kump netting his second during that span.
 
Matthew Johnson added a goal just before halftime to give the Greyhounds a commanding 11-3 lead.
 
Jack Johnson and Luke Allen each posted a goal early in the second half, as the Hounds cruised to the final horn. Blake Donnelly added a score just before the buzzer to give the team its third 20-goal game in program history.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Billig's opening goal in the first quarter was the second-fastest score to begin a season in the short four-year history of the program. The Brighton, Mich. native is the first freshman to score five goals since Tyler Johnson on April 23, 2016.
 
Friday marked the sixth time in his career that Kump has scored at least five goals in a single game.
 
Goalkeeper Austin Barnett made seven saves in the fourth quarter, his only period of action in the win. The sophomore netminder yielded three goals in 15 minutes.
 
Robbie Berardi controlled the faceoff, winning 20-of-25 from the circle. The redshirt-junior scooped up 12 ground balls as a result.
 
Josh Jackson and Erich Wiitala each caused two turnovers in the victory.
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds will travel to No. 3 Seton Hill next Saturday afternoon looking to avenge last season's home-opening loss to the Griffins. UIndy is 0-3 all-time against Seton Hill.