GREENCASTLE, Ind. - The Calvin men's lacrosse team opened its 2022 campaign with an 8-7 non-conference win at DePauw University Saturday afternoon.

Calvin held off a late fourth quarter charge by the host Tigers to start out the season on a winning note.

Calvin led 3-1 after one quarter of play and 6-2 at halftime.

DePauw drew first blood, scoring 21 seconds into the contest but the Knights answered with goals from freshman Thomas Smith (Grosse Pointe Farms Mich./Grosse Pointe South HS), junior Josh Newhouse (Grand Junction, Co./Palisade HS) and senior Drew Stoneburner (Wheaton, Il./Wheaton North HS) to lead by two after one quarter of play. The goal by Stoneburner was a man-up goal after a DePauw penalty.

Calvin received another man-up opportunity early in the second quarter and took advantage when senior Nick Dueweke (Clarkston, Mich./Notre Dame Prep) scored off a feed from senior Chase Sparling (Novi, Mich./Novi HS) to give the Knights a 4-1 lead.

Newhouse scored less than two minutes later to give the Knight a 5-1 lead. After a DePauw goal, Newhouse scored again, allowing the Knights to take a 6-2 lead into halftime.

Second half play tightened up. Smith scored five minutes into the third quarter but the Tigers answered with two goals of their own to trail 7-4 heading into the final quarter of play.

After DePauw tallied in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to make it 7-5, Smith came up clutch by cramming home a shot off a feed from senior teammate Jake Boender (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) to lift the Knights into an 8-5 lead.

The last goal by Smith proved to the game-winner for the Knights. DePauw scored with five minutes left and again with 31 seconds left but the Knights won the ensuing faceoff and bled out the remaining time on the clock to gain the win.

Newhouse finished with four goals and three ground balls. Smith had two goals and three ground balls. Sparling had two assists, five ground balls and won 8 of 13 faceoff opportunities.

Senior Evan Griffin (Howell, Mich./Hartland HS) had 12 saves in goal and scooped up four ground balls.

Calvin finished with a 36-27 shots on goal advantage.

COACHES COMMENTS: "Always good to start the season 1-0," said Calvin head men's lacrosse coach Dave Hoger. "We had a lot of bright spots and some of our young guys stepped up and played really well along with some of our veterans. I knew this game would be a great test for us against a talented DePauw team and would exploit a lot of things we need to get better at. It was a good start and the energy was great. Excited to get back to work on Monday."

NEXT UP: Calvin will travel to Illinois Tech next Friday for a 6 p.m. (CST) game).