After a tough road loss after returning from spring break, Trine responded by winning four straight games including their first two conference games of the season over MSOE and Concordia (WI). The team also picked up conference wins over Albion and Hanover. Two tough losses late in the season eliminated the Thunder from the conference tournament as they fell in overtime to Mount St. Joseph and Fontbonne.
Freshman Dalton Madsen was named the Midwest Lacrosse Conference Offensive Player of the Week for games played through March 18 in which he Madsen tallied four goals and five assists.
As a team, the Thunder rank as one of the best man-up offenses in the country, ranking 19th. Senior Alex Gregg finished his final season at Trine 25th in the nation in save percentage and 37th in saves per game.
The Midwest Lacrosse Conference has named Trine University men’s lacrosse players Chris Olney and Eric Thompson Second Team All-MLC. The Thunder also had five players named Honorable Mention.
Olney, a senior, finished his final season at Trine anchoring the defense starting all 14 games. Olney recovered 22 groundballs on the season and caused 15 turnovers.
Thompson, also a senior, led the Thunder with 31 goals on the year, while assisting on six. Thompson also won 45 percent of his faceoffs while recovering a team-high 69 groundballs and causing 12 turnovers.
The five Honorable Mention’s for the Thunder were: Alex Gregg - Goalie; Sam Swerdlow - Defense; Blaine Stahley - Midfield; Dalton Madsen - Attack; and Rob Brzezinski - Face-Off.
Seniors Blaine Stahley (95), Andy Lauer (82) and Eric Thompson (68) leave Trine as the first, second and fourth all-time leading scorers in school history. Thompson (227), Stahley (153) and Gregg (132) also leave as the top three players in groundballs.
This marked the final season for the men’s team in the MLC as the MIAA will begin sponsoring lacrosse in the 2012-13 academic year.