Angola, Ind. – The Trine's men's lacrosse team fell to Albion in back-and-forth battle, 9-8, in a MIAA conference game Saturday afternoon at Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium.
Albion pulled off the win over Trine in a tightly-contested game that never saw either team lead by more than one goal. The Britons had the advantage in face-offs, winning 14-of-19. Albion had three players with two goals each. Trine's offensive attack was led by Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill. / St. Rita) and Jake Ahearn (Naperville, Ill. / Naperville), both having a pair of goals and one assist. Trine is now 3-2 in MIAA, and 6-5 overall. Albion is now 5-0 in MIAA, and 9-4 overall.
Travis Lores (Kildeer, Ill. / Lake Zurich) played a solid game in net, having 12 saves to keep the Britons four goals below their season-average. Jordan Backer (Centerville, Ohio / Centerville) led the Trine's defense with four caused turnovers.
The Thunder drew first blood of the game, in the first 50 seconds, with a goal coming from Daniel Shine (Chicago, Ill. / Lane Tech College Prep). The Britons quickly answered back with a goal coming from Dominic Hamper. Midway through the first quarter, Ahearn scored a goal to put Trine back on top of Albion, 2-1. A goal scored by Albion's John Cooke, tied the game back up to two apiece to head into the second quarter.
Albion took the lead for the first time of the game, in the first two minutes of the second quarter, with a long shot from the wing coming from Paul Lewis. Trine answered back when defender Backer joined the rush and assisted on the goal scored by Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill. / Downers Grove South).
Over half way through the second quarter, the Britons took the lead again when a goal by Cameron Braun. Trine, yet again, answered back with a goal scored by Nick Maher (DeWitt, Mich. / DeWitt) to tie the game back up 4-4. With a falling down shot attempt, Ahearn was able to snipe the bottom corner in the final five seconds of the first half to take the lead 5-4 going into halftime.
Albion struck first in the second half when Dylan Neal tied the game back up in the early minutes of the third quarter. Ward put the Thunder back on top minutes later when he scored a goal from the far wing. John Cooke tied the game back up for Albion.
With three minutes left in the third quarter, Kody Hutchison (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth-Canton) put Trine back on top making the score 7-6. The goals was the senior's first career collegiate tally. With the final seconds of the third quarter coming to a close, Paul Lewis tied the game back up going into the fourth quarter.
In the first seconds of the final quarter, Ward sniped in a goal to allow Trine to take the lead. Less than 30 seconds later the Britons Dylan Neal tied the contest back up at eight apiece. Five minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Britons got the game-winner with the goal coming from Zach Hubbell.
Trine recognized its senior class of nine, as they played in their final home regular season game in their careers for Trine.
The Thunder return to action Tuesday, April 26 where they will travel to Olivet College. Face-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Article contributed by Cody Konieczki, Trine University, Communications '17
