FREDERICK, Md. - Hood College dropped its home opener to Shenandoah by a final score of 11-7.

Patrick O'Brien (Ridley, Pa. / Ridley) matched a career-high with three goals. Tai Foster (Honolulu, Hawaii / Punahou) had three points with a goal and two assists. Brandon McCormick (Lancaster, Pa. / Penn Manor) won 10-of-15 face offs and had eight ground balls. James Weger (Shrewsburg, Pa. / Susquehannock) added five ground balls and caused three turnovers. Miguel Caruso (Spotsylvania County, Va. / Chancellor) also had five ground balls. Joey McCulloh (Westminster, Md. / Winters Mill) stopped 15 shots in goal. 

Shenandoah jumped ahead 2-0 midway through the first quarter, forcing the Blazers to call timeout. Just 26 seconds later, Sean Murphy (Chesapeake, Va. / Grassfield) took a feed from Foster and cut the lead in half.

In the second quarter, Hood tied the score three times. The Blazers struck first with O'Brien's first tally of the afternoon. After Shenandoah reclaimed the lead, Alex Villegas (New Windsor, Md. / Francis Scott Key) tied it at 3-3 with the help of Nick Masucci (Berkeley Heights, N.J. / Governor Livingston). O'Brien's second goal tied the game again with 6:41 left in the half, but a man-up goal by Aaron Paul and a late marker by Kyle Savage sent the Hornets into the break with a 6-4 lead. 

Two early third quarter goals stretchd Shenandoah's lead to 8-4. After O'Brien scored his final goal of the afternoon, Nick Druelinger (Joppa, Md. / John Carroll) took advantage of a Hornet penalty to cut the defecit to 8-6 with just under five minutes left in the third period. 

Shenandoah scored the next three goals to take an 11-6 lead with 10:43 left in the fourth. Foster scored a goal in the final minute.

Paul led all players with four goals and one assist. Tilghman Sanders added two goals and two assists and Stephen LaTona scored three times. Dom Lombardi had seven ground balls and three caused turnovers. 

Hood held a 43-28 advantage on ground balls, but committed five more turnovers than the Hornets. Shenandoah outshot Hood 36-32.

The Blazers will try to get back in the win column on Monday, March 2 when Rosemont visits Thomas Athletic Field at 3 p.m.