OLIVET, Mich.-- The Trine men's lacrosse team earned a pivotal MIAA victory with a 7-5 win over Olivet Wednesday evening at Cutler Athletic Complex.
Another strong defensive effort paced the Thunder in holding the Comets 12 goals below their season average in conference play. Trine boasts the conference's best scoring defense in league play, and was ranked as the 14th-best defensive unit in the nation entering tonight's game. Travis Lores (Kildeer, Ill. / Lake Zurich) made a career-high 13 saves in net to help shut down the Olivet attack. Lores entered the game with the sixth-best goals-against average in the nation.
Trine improved to 7-5 overall and 4-2 in the MIAA with the victory. The Thunder is now tied for third in the conference with the Comets, but would own the head-to-head tiebreak in any MIAA postseason seeding scenario. Olivet fell to 6-8 overall.
Seven different players scored to pace Trine's attack. Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill. / St. Rita) and Jordan Lelito (West Chicago, Ill. / West Chicago) each scored a goal and added an assist to notch multi-point efforts. Ward inched closer to the 100-career goal milestone and now has 96 in his collegiate career.
Colin Lelito (West Chicago, Ill. / West Chicago) aided the defensive efforts with a team-high three caused turnovers. He added a team-high six ground balls. Jordan Backer (Centerville, Ohio / Centerville) forced two turnovers and collected three ground balls.
Tyler Polendo scored two goals to pace Olivet. Dakota Badder and Nino Minaudo each added a goal and assist for the the Comets.
The Thunder scored twice in the first 3:26 to get off to a strong start. Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill. / Downers Grove South) got Trine on the board, before Kevan Barissi (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest Hills Central) added the second tally 53 seconds later. Jordan Lelito's man-up goal pushed the score to 3-0 less than seven minutes into the contest.
Badder got the Comets on the board late in the second quarter, but the Thunder had an answer. Eric Peal (Imperial, Mo. / Seckman) scored off a pass from Lelito to restore a three-goal lead heading into the half.
A three-goal run to open the third quarter gave Trine a six-goal cushion. The Thunder once again scored two quick goals, with Nick Maher (DeWitt, Mich. / DeWitt) scoring off a pass from Ward and Daniel Shine (Chicago, Ill. / Lane College Prep) tallying in the first 2:52 of the second half. Ward's unassisted goal pushed the score to 7-1 with 9:23 to play.
Trine had to withstand a comeback attempt from the Comets. A Minaudo goal cut the score to 7-2 at the end of third. Three Comet goals within a span of 2:09 cut the score to 7-5 with 8:20 to play, but the Thunder was able to hold Olivet scoreless the rest of the way.
Trine returns to action Saturday, Apr. 30 at Hope. Face-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The Thunder could have a chance to earn as high as a No. 2 seed in the MIAA Tournament.