CHICAGO—For the first time in 369 days, the Illinois Institute of Technology men's lacrosse team took the field as they traveled to Benedictine (Ill.) for their 2021 season opener on Saturday. The non-conference contest was a last-minute addition to the schedule after a cancellation gave the Scarlet Hawks an open date to fill.

Illinois Tech goalie Zane Handy registered 14 saves for the second-straight contest dating back to last season's 15-5 win over Beloit on March 10, 2020, but it wasn't enough to give his troops a victory this time around in a 16-11 loss to the Eagles.

The Scarlet Hawks open the 2021 season with an 0-1, 0-0 NACC record while Bendictine exits Saturday with a 3-2, 0-0 NACC mark.

Benedictine (Ill.) 16, Scarlet Hawks 11

The man-up offense was Illinois Tech's arsenal, as they converted a 4-of-10 mark behind talliies from Spencer Meace, Ryan Arbour, Aidan Gans and Aerex Freeman. The Scarlet Hawks never led in the contest, but their fourth man-up goal, courtesy of Freeman, cut Benedictine's lead to 12-10 with 10:41 left in the fourth quarter.  The Eagles outshot Illinois Tech 14-2 from that point through the game's conclusion en route to a 16-11 victory.

Gans paced the Scarlet Hawks with three goals while Reed Tangeman, Arbour, Meace and Freeman each netted two. Gans also tallied a team-leading four assists, six ground balls and two caused turnovers. 

Christopher Stone registered a 7-of-19 mark in the face-off circle for Illinois Tech. 

Four goalies saw action for the Eagles, led by Evan Kilbane's six stops over 30:00. The Eagles outshot Illinois Tech 48-25. Colin Domek paced Benedictine with a 12-point game that included six goals and six assists. 

The Scarlet Hawks will travel to Aurora for a non-conference match on Saturday, March 27 at a time to be determined.