ELMHURST, Ill. – Mac Harden totaled 10 points on four goals and six assists to lead the Elmhurst men's lacrosse team to a 14-9 win over Hope College in the Bluejays' home-opener at Langhorst Field.
 
After a tight first quarter that saw Elmhurst build a 4-3 lead, the Bluejays blew the game open in the second. Elmhurst outscored Hope 8-2 in the second quarter to open up a 12-5 lead at the half. Leading 4-3 entering the second, the Bluejays scored three straight with goals from Cullen Nordemann, Dan O'Connell and Andrew Frerich. Hope scored back-to-back goals to pull to within two at 7-5, but the Bluejays finished the quarter with five straight goals. Mike Foytlin, Harden, Sante Dybowski, Nate Yuhas and Marcus Yandall all scored before the half to give Elmhurst a seven-goal lead at the break.
 
Hope (1-1) battled back in the third, scoring the first four goals of the second half to pull to within three goals. Yuhas and Yandall scored the final two goals of the contest to help the Bluejays pull away for the five-goal win.
 
Elmhurst (2-0) outshot Hope 42-25 in the game and held a 31-28 lead in ground balls. Harden paced the Bluejays' offense, finishing with 10 points on four goals and six assists. Harden had a hand on nine of Elmhurst's first 10 goals of the game. Yandall and two goals and two assists while Yuhas and Dybowski finished with two goals apiece. Carter Meyer won 11-of-20 faceoffs and recorded a team-best seven ground balls.
 
Noah Bachofen earned the win in goal, allowing nine goals while recording eight saves.
 
Max Kuiper led Hope with three goals and one assists while Gino Battaglia totaled two goals for the Flying Dutchmen. Nick Schanhals took the loss in goal, surrendering 14 goals while making 13 saves.
 
Elmhurst plays at Aurora University on February 27.