QUEENS, N.Y. – It was an impressive start to the BIG EAST campaign for Villanova men's lacrosse as the Wildcats set a season-high in goals with a 21-7 defeat of St. John's on Saturday afternoon at Belson Stadium.

Luke Raymond scored a career-high seven goals for Villanova (4-5, 1-0 BIG EAST) while David Link added six points on a score and season-high five assists. Colin Michener contributed a hat trick as Lachlan Moffatt totaled his first career goal as part of a two-score day and both Scot Mackie and Aidan Haggerty also put forth the first goal of their careers.

George Glomb won a career-best 17 faceoffs, Beau Kemler scooped up eight ground balls in addition to an assist, Nolan Sabel added a trio of helpers and Anthony Wilson got his first victory of the season between the pipes.

It was the Villanova debut for five different players on the day, including senior goalkeeper David Sadasivam in addition to Tucker Hess, Will Stewart, Reid Chisholm and Parker Harms. Ryan O'Connor also won his first three collegiate faceoffs and Ryan Martin made his first ever start for the 'Cats.

Raymond got the game's scoring started less than 30 seconds in as Link caused a turnover on the ride and found Raymond for a 1-0 lead. St. John's answered a bit over a minute later and added another shortly after, then Kemler fed Link in transition to tie it at two apiece. Nick Lucchesi put forth an unassisted tally to match a Johnnies man-up score, making it a 3-3 affair after a quarter.

The second was dominated by the 'Cats as Villanova had an 8-2 advantage in the quarter. Raymond scored the team's first three in the period, two off Kessy Cox assists and one unassisted, though two for the Red Storm made it just 6-5 Wildcats. Moffatt converted on the man-up, Mackie got his first ever goal by taking a faceoff GB to the house then Gavin Michener put home a BTB off a Sabel feed for a 9-5 VU edge and St. John's timeout. Raymond got his fourth of the quarter in the final minute, then Lucas Newton turned around a Sabel pass with 10 seconds to go for an 11-5 advantage at halftime.

Nobody scored for eight minutes to start the second half before Moffatt hit a low-angle shot with Link getting the assist. C. Michener followed a St. John's goal to go back up seven, then a Jake Melchionni pole goal, another C. Michener score and Raymond's sixth and seventh of the game made it 17-6 after three.

The Johnnies opened the fourth with a transition tally, but it was all Wildcats from there as Villanova ended the outing on a 4-0 run. C. Michener got his hat trick at 12:04 and Cox scored one unassisted to go up 19-7 before VU got some run for its scout team. Haggerty gave the team a 20-piece with his first career goal, then Sadasivam made his first save as a Wildcat before Quinton Cepiel capped the game's scoring by cleaning up a rebound on the crease for a 21-7 Wildcat victory.

With the win, Villanova moves to 20-7 all-time against the Johnnies with victories in each of the last 12 matchups.