GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Trine men's lacrosse team got a lock-down defensive effort to earn a 12-3 victory over Calvin in MIAA-action Saturday afternoon at Zuidema Field.
The Thunder held the Knights scoreless over a span of 32:13 between the first and third quarters. Joseph Steigmeyer (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Bishop Dwenger) made 14 saves to earn the victory in net. Nick Maher (DeWitt, Mich. / DeWitt) powered the attack with four goals and an assist. Trine held its second consecutive conference opponent to fewer than five goals. The Thunder improved to 6-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play. Calvin fell to 4-8 overall, 0-3 in the MIAA.
Tyler Klima (Schaumburg, Ill. / Schaumburg) added a four-point effort with two goals and two assists. Conner Putman (Ridgefield, Conn. / Ridgefield) notched two goals and an assist, while Neil Orr (Lombard, Ill. / Montini Catholic) and Eric Peal (Imperial, Mo. / Seckman) each picked up a goal and two assists to contribute three-point performances.
Steigmeyer notched a team-high six ground balls for the Thunder. Brent Farrugia (Clarkston, Mich. / Clarkston) added five ground balls to help Trine hold a 36-25 edge. The Thunder also outshot Calvin by a 36-27 margin.
Chris Griffin scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Knights. Michael Winkler added a goal and an assist. Ethan Brown totaled a game-high nine ground balls.
The Knights held a 2-1 edge after the first quarter thanks to both of Griffin's goals. Griffin's final tally, with 2:58 to play in the opening quarter, was all Calvin would get until 45 seconds remained in the third quarter. During that time, Trine scored six consecutive goals to take a 7-2 lead.
Ian Grise (Goshen, Ind. / Northridge) tied the score early in the second quarter off a pass from Peal, before Peal put the Thunder ahead for good with 6:45 to play in the quarter. Maher's second goal gave Trine a 4-2 lead going into the half.
Goals by Maher, Jordan Lelito (West Chicago, Ill. / West Chicago) and Klima capped the run and pushed the score to 7-2 with 5:06 to play in the third. Winkler's man-up goal 45 seconds to play in the quarter stopped the run, but the Thunder responded by scoring five unanswered goals in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
Putman scored twice in the final quarter, while Klima, Maher and Orr added tallies to put the game away.
Trine returns to action Wednesday, Apr. 19 when the Thunder host Adrian at 6 p.m.