NORFOLK, Va.--The Hood College men's lacrosse team (0-1) dropped a 20-7 decision to the Virginia Wesleyan College Marlins (1-1) Saturday in its season opener.

Sophomore Nick Spicer scored the first goal of his Hood career less than four minutes into the game to give the Blazers the early lead. But Virginia Wesleyan's Curran Lee scored back-to-back goals 2:34 apart to give the hosts a 2-1 edge.

Junior Blake Rust responded with an unassisted score to knot the game at 2-2. VWC's Travis Puls rounded out the first quarter scoring when he ripped one past Hood goalie Nick O'Brien with 4:24 left in the period.

Hood was quick to counter in the second quarter. Sophomore Kris Miner tied it up with his eighth career goal just 15 seconds into the second period. But that would be the last tally for the Blazers in the first half as three different Marlins scored in the final 8:42 to give VWC a 6-3 halftime lead.

The Marlins erupted for eight third-quarter goals to take a 14-6 lead into the final period. That lead would be too much for the Blazers to overcome as sophomore Dominique Shorter was credited with Hood's lone fourth-quarter goal.

Spicer, Shorter and Rust all tallied a pair of goals while Miner and junior Sofiane Lazar were credited with assists in the losing effort. O'Brien turned away 15 shots in defeat.

Lee finished with six goals and Damian Becker totaled 11 points on six goals and five assists for the victors.

Hood returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Gwynedd-Mercy College in its home opener at 3:30 p.m. at Thomas Athletic Field.