ANGOLA, Ind. - It was a comeback that just barely fell short, as the Trine University men’s lacrosse team rallied in the final quarter, but dropped their first conference game of the year, 9-7 to Aurora (IL). The loss drops the Thunder to 5-2 on the season and 2-1 in the MLC.
Trine would get things going quickly as senior Blaine Stahley (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) found the back of the net just 57 seconds into the game to give the Thunder the early lead. The Spartans would answer back scoring twice more in the quarter, then adding another to open the second.
The Thunder would end the scoring drought as freshman Eric Thompson (Cumberland, Maine/Greely) scored with 9:37 left in the half to pull the Thunder within one. Thompson would score again with 7:51 to go, tying the game going into the break.
Stahley would open the second half scoring, giving Trine their first lead of the game, but it wouldn’t last long.
Less than two minutes later, the Spartans would score on a man-up opportunity to tie the game. Aurora would add another goal on a man-up chance with 1:37 left in the quarter to re-take the lead. With just two seconds left, Aurora would score to give them a two goal advantage going into the final frame.
Trine would go on the offensive as they scored two quick goals from Stahley and Thompson just 15 seconds apart, tying the game with 13:08 left to play.
Thompson would tally his fourth goal of the game, giving Trine back the lead with 9:48 to go in the game.
From there though, the Spartans were able to regain the momentum as they scored three goals, including one on a man-up, in a span of just 1:14. Aurora would run out the clock in the final minutes as the Thunder were unable to even the score.
Thompson and Stahley tallied the only goals for the Thunder as they scored four and three respectively.
Sophomore David Louis (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley) tallied the only assists for Trine on the night. Thompson also had a solid defensive night causing a team-high two turnovers and recovering five groundballs.
In goal for the Thunder, senior Alex Gregg (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) was just one save shy of tying his own school record as he finished with 22 saves on the night. Gregg also led the Thunder with six groundballs.
On the night, Aurora held the lead in nearly every category, out-shooting the Thunder 42-25, collecting more groundballs, 45-24, and winning more faceoffs, 13-4. Trine committed just four more turnovers (18-14) than the Spartans, but Aurora was able to convert on 3-of-7 man-up opportunities, compared to the Thunder who went 0-for-2. Both sides were solid in their clearing opportunities as both sides were a perfect 9-9 in the first half, as the Thunder finished 19-22 for the game while the Spartans finished 16-20.
Trine will look to get back to their winning ways as they travel to Carthage (WI) for a game on April 7 at 2:00 p.m. (est.).
