Men’s Lacrosse Falls To Monks In Season Opener

THE BASICS

Saint Joseph's College (ME) 12 vs. Salem State 7

Records: 

Saint Joseph's College (ME) (1-1-0) 

Salem State Vikings (0-1-0)

Location: Standish, ME

Date: Friday February 20^th, 2026

THE LEAD:
After falling behind early, the Salem State Vikings could not recover as they dropped a 12-7 decision to the Saint Joseph's (Me.) Monks in a fast-paced matchup. The Monks opened the game with three straight goals and carried the momentum into halftime with a strong second quarter. Salem State mounted a third-quarter surge with three consecutive goals to pull back within reach, but the Monks answered each run and pulled away in the fourth to secure the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

 The Salem State Vikings fell to Saint Joseph's College Of Maine Monks, 12-7, in a fast-paced non-conference matchup as the Monks used an early surge and timely responses to secure the victory.

The Monks wasted no time setting the tone, scoring three consecutive goals in the opening quarter while holding the Vikings scoreless. The early deficit put Salem State in catch-up mode heading into the second.

The Vikings responded with energy in the second quarter, breaking through for two goals to spark their offense. However, each push was met with an answer from the Monks, who tallied four goals in the period to extend their advantage. Salem State headed into halftime trailing, needing a strong second-half effort to shift momentum.

Coming out of halftime with added intensity, the Vikings mounted their best stretch of the game in the third quarter. Salem State netted three straight goals, applying consistent offensive pressure and cutting the deficit to get back within reach. Just as momentum began to swing, the Monks would respond once again, closing the quarter with two crucial goals to regain control.

Looking to complete the comeback in the fourth, the Vikings needed quick stops and efficient offensive possessions. However the Monks would continue to capitalize on their opportunities, scoring three times in the final frame while limiting Salem State to two goals. The late efforts were not enough to overcome the early gap, as the Monks would secure the 12-7 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

• Jaxon Thomas would lead the Vikings in caused turnovers with 4 of them against the Monks of Saint Joseph's (ME.)
• Joseph Turpin would lead the Vikings in offense against the Monks scoring 3 goals. 
• Ryan Cohen would have 10 saves against the Monks of Saint Joseph's (ME) 

UP NEXT:

The Vikings are back in action on Tuesday February 24^th, 2026 where they look to travel to Worcester, MA to take on the Cougars of Clark University. Opening Face-off is set to start at 7:00pm.