OLIVET, Mich.-- The Trine men's lacrosse team opened MIAA play with a tight, 13-11 loss to Olivet Tuesday night at Cutler Athletic Complex.
The two teams played even in every quarter but the second, and the 3-1 Comet advantage in that period turned out to be the difference in the game. MIAA-leading scorer Dakota Badder scored four goals to pace the Olivet attack. Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St. Rita) scored a career-high five goals to pace the Thunder offensively. Paul Carlquist (Downers, Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) notched a six-point night on four goals and a pair of assists. Trine falls to 2-5 overall, 0-1 in the MIAA. Olivet is 3-6 overall, 1-0 in conference play.
The Thunder held the advantage in nearly every major statistical category, outshooting the Comets 43-34, holding a 45-31 edge in ground balls and winning 19-of-26 face-offs. Steven Coyle (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman) and Collin Lelito (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago) each notched a team-high six ground balls.
Jordan Lelito (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago) had a superb night on the draw, winning 18-of-24 face-offs. He also scored his first collegiate goal. Jake Ahearn (Naperville, Ill./Naperville) also scored a goal for the Thunder.
Jack Ranson scored three goals and added an assist, while James Collins added two goals and two assists for a four-point night for Olivet. The Comets forced Trine into 25 turnovers while commtting just 19 themselves. Ryan McGee earned the victory in net with eight saves in 46 minutes of action.
The first quarter saw a flurry of action with each team scoring five goals. The Comets scored the first three, but the Thunder scored five of the next six to take a 5-4 lead. Ward scored three goals in the opening frame. A goal by Ranson knotted the score.
Ward gave the Thunder its final lead of the night early in the second quarter before Olivet scored the last three of the first half to take the lead right back. Badder scored the final two goals as OC went to the intermission up 8-6.
The Thunder fought back to cut the deficit to one on four occasions in the second half, but each time the Comets had an answer. Carlquist scored all four of his goals in the second half, three of which cut the deficit to one. Ward's final goal cut the score to 12-11 with 3:56 to play. Shane Prunty had the answer 13 seconds later for the Comets for the final margin.
Trine returns to action this Saturday, Apr. 4 when they host Hope at 1 p.m.
