Mike Sawyer scored five goals to lead top-seeded Loyola University Maryland to a 17-5 win over Canisius College on the opening day of the men’s college lacrosse tournament.

Third-seeded Duke University defeated Syracuse 12-9; Colgate University upset No. 6 seed Massachusetts 13-11; and Denver topped eighth-seeded North Carolina 16-14 yesterday in the National Collegiate Athletic Association championships.

In today’s matches, fifth-seeded Virginia meets Princeton; fourth-seeded Notre Dame plays Yale; No. 7 seed Lehigh takes on Maryland; and second-seeded Johns Hopkins challenges Stony Brook.

Sawyer, who was 0-5 in the first half, scored his five goals in Loyola’s 13-goal second half at Ridley Athletic Complex in Baltimore. Eric Lusby added three for the Greyhounds, who play Denver on May 19 in the quarterfinals.

Justin Turri, Robert Rotanz and Christian Walsh each scored three goals to lead Duke to its win over Syracuse in Durham, North Carolina.

The Blue Devils next face Colgate on May 20 in the second round. Matt Baker, Peter Baum, Brendon McCann, Ryan Walsh and Chris Zielinski each scored twice in Colgate’s away victory.

In the first day of the women’s NCAA lacrosse tournament yesterday, it was top-seeded Florida 6, Albany 4; Penn State 15, eighth-seeded Towson 8; No. 5 North Carolina 14, Navy 7; third- seeded Maryland 15, Massachusetts 12; and second-seeded Northwestern 9, Notre Dame 5.

Florida will play Penn State in the second round on May 19.

In women’s action today, it is Dartmouth vs. No. 4 seed Syracuse; Pennsylvania vs. No. 6 seed Loyola (Md); and seventh- seeded Duke vs. Virginia.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bob Bensch in London at bbensch@bloomberg.net Nancy Kercheval in Washington at nkercheval@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net