A 5-0 run to start the second half was the difference in the game as the Canisius College men's lacrosse team lost its season opener to host Boston University, 13-9, on Saturday afternoon.

“Execution, execution, execution,” said Canisius head coach Randy Mearns. “To win, you need to execute and many times throughout the game, we didn't. We had failed clears, costly turnovers, too many missed chances in front of the net and missed ground balls. It just accumulated in the third quarter and we couldn't climb back.

“We have to clean that up and we will before we head to Denver next week. On a positive note, our special teams did a great job and Alex Govenettio had a solid game in net. We will build on this performance and get better day by day. We have a starting point and it's a long season. The challenge is to get better every day.”

Seven different players scored for the Griffs, led by two goals from junior Billy Jacobbi and sophomore Adam Huber Huber's two tallies were the first two of his career, while graduate student Christopher Kane, senior defender Adam Donner and freshman Ryan McKee also netted their first collegiate goals.

Senior Tim Edwards finished with a game-high four points on a goal and three assists, while sophomore Jeff Edwards also added a goal and an assist.

Senior Alex Govenetttio anchored the Canisius defense with a career-best 15 saves, while sophomore Paul Burich collected a team-best six ground balls in his first career start on close defense.

The Griffs won the opening faceoff of the game and Jacobbi finished the possession with the team's first goal of the 2015 season 59 seconds into the game. The Terriers answered with three-straight tallies for a 3-1 lead but the Griffs responded with a 3-0 run of their own for a 4-3 advantage after one period.

Boston University squared the game at four midway through the second quarter but Tim Edwards and Donner finished the scoring in the first half to send Canisius into the intermission with a 6-4 lead.

The third quarter, however, would turn the game to the Terriers' advantage. Boston University scored all five goals in the period to take a 9-6 advantage into the final frame. Canisius committed more turnovers (five) then had shot attempts (four), allowing the Terriers to build a lead they would not relinquish.

Canisius attempted a comeback in the fourth quarter, netting the first two goals of the period. Jeff Edwards scored his first of the season before Jacobbi added his second with 10:21 remaining, pulling the Griffs within one, 9-8. However, Boston University scored two goals in the next 33 seconds, starting a 4-1 run to finish the game and earn the 13-9 victory.

The Terriers held a 48-33 advantage in shots in the game, including a 31-9 edge in the second and third quarters. The Griffs converted 3-of-4 extra-man opportunities on the day, while killing the only man-up chance for Boston University.

Canisius is back in action next weekend with a pair of games at the Faceoff Classic in Denver, Colo. The Griffs open the invitational against Furman on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.