SOUTH BEND, IND.—A big fourth quarter led Aurora to an 11-7 victory over Trine's men's lacrosse team Sunday afternoon at Arlotta Stadium on the campus of Notre Dame.
The Spartans scored five unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to take home the victory. Max Obriecht scored four goals and added two assists for a six-point night to lead Aurora. Obriecht also notched a game-high 12 ground balls. Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St. Rita) scored a career-high four goals to lead the Trine attack. Ward added five ground balls. The Spartans outshot the Thunder by a 58-22 margin. Trine falls to 0-8 on the season. Aurora improves to 5-3 overall.
Matt Lamb (Akron, Ohio/Revere) made 15 saves in a strong performance in goal for the Thunder. Jake Ahearn (Naperville, Ill./Naperville) added a goal and an assist.
Pat Diorka notched two goals and an assist for Aurora. Adam Holka made six saves.
After the Spartans took a 3-1 lead after a quarter of play, Trine responded with a strong second to take the lead into halftime. Ward scored off a pass from George Youpel (Chicago Ridge, Ill/St. Rita) to cut the deficit to one, before Andrew Walters (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) scored on a nice feed from Patrick Walker (Round Lake Park, Ill./Grayslake North) to knot the score at three. Both goals came on an extra-man opportunity. Ward's second goal of the game put Trine up 4-3.
After a Casey Pettine goal for AU, Ahearn put Trine up 5-4 with 10:08 to play in the first half. The Thunder would take that lead into the break.
Each team scored twice in the third before Aurora closed the game with a 5-0 fourth quarter. Five different Spartans scored goals to close it out. Zachary Olsen's man-up goal with 11:13 to play proved to be the game-winner. Jordan Williams picked up the assist.
Trine opens MIAA-play this Tuesday, Apr. 1 when they host Olivet at 7:00 p.m. in Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium.