WILMINGTON, Ohio -- An explosive attack led the Trine men's lacrosse team to an 18-8 victory over Wilmington in non-conference action Saturday afternoon.
The 18 goals scored by the Thunder were the team's most in a game sinec 2013. A six-goal run turned a four-point lead late in the second quarter into a double-digit cushion. Nick Maher (DeWitt, Mich. / DeWitt) tied a career high with five goals and added an assist to tie his career high of six points. He added two caused turnovers. Trine improved to 2-1 on the season. Wilmington fell to 2-2.
Tyler Klima (Schaumburg, Ill. / Schaumburg) scored two goals and added two assists for a four-point effort. Klima has scored two goals in each of the first three games of his collegiate career. Neil Orr (Lombard, Ill. / Montini Catholic), Brandon Walters (Detroit, Mich. / University of Detroit Jesuit) and Mitch Leahey (Lake Orion, Mich. / Lake Orion) each added a pair of goals. Orr and Leahey each notched an assist as well.
The Thunder forced the Quakers into 16 turnovers, with Trine players earning credit for 13 caused turnovers. In addition to Maher, Grant Chimples (Solon, Ohio / Chagrin Falls), Keith McCowan (Cary, Ill. / Cary-Grove), Brian Orr (Lombard, Ill. / Montini Catholic) and Alex Jamieson (Hartland, Wis. / Arrowhead) each caused two turnovers.
Zachary Paterson (Westfield, Ind. / Westfield) picked up the win in goal in his first career start. Paterson made eight saves.
Andrew Miller and Connor Judge each scored three times to lead the Quakers. Chris Hein added two goals and an assist. Matt Gallagher made 18 saves in net.
After falling behind 2-1 early in the first quarter, Trine scored three straight to take the lead for good. Justin Gearig's (Vicksburg, Mich. / Vicksburg) gave the Thunder the lead and Klima beat the buzzer with a shot at the end of the quarter to put Trine up 4-2.
Five different Trine players scored in the second quarter as the Thunder opened up a 9-4 lead at the half. Neil Orr scored the final goal of the half with three seconds remaining to jump-start a six-goal Trine run that continued into the third quarter. Maher scored three times during the run, which gave the Thunder a 14-4 lead with 7:38 to play in the third. Wilmington never pulled closer than nine the rest of the way.
Trine returns to action Thursday, Mar. 16 at Hendrix. Face-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.