Angola, Ind. – A comeback attempt by Trine's men's lacrosse was stymied by Olivet as the Comets earned a 13-10 win Tuesday night at Shive Field.
The Thunder faced a seven-goal deficit at the half and pulled within one early in the fourth quarter, but the Comets scored the final two goals to claim the victory. Trine's attack was led by Nick Maher (DeWitt, Mich. / DeWitt) with three goals. Ian Grise (Goshen, Ind. / Northridge) had three points in the game with two assists and a goal. Brandon Walters (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / University of Detroit Jesuit) notched a team-high five ground balls and added a goal
Zachary Paterson (Westfield, Ind. / Westfield) had six saves for the Thunder and played a role in keeping Trine in the game throughout the second half. The two teams were evenly match across the board in most statistical categories, but the Comets forced Trine into 21 turnovers while committing just 14.
Trevor Bailey led the Comets in its offense with four goals and an assist. Zach Sanders contributed with three goals of his own and two assists.
Trine falls to 7-5 overall and 3-3 in MIAA play. Olivet improves to 7-5 overall and 5-1 in conference. The Thunder needs to win Saturday to keep its postseason hopes alive.
The Comets drew first blood in the opening seconds of the game with a goal coming from Logan Krieger. At the 11-minute mark of the first quarter, Cullen Haesler scored another goal for Olivet with the assist coming Sanders. Seconds later the Thunder answered back with a goal from Brian Orr (Lombard, Ill. / Montini Catholic). At the halfway point of the first quarter going into the second quarter the Comets went on a five-goal run.
Kevan Barissi (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Forest hills Central) was able to get an unassisted tally for the Thunder halfway through the second quarter. Following Trine's goal, Bailey and Krieger were able to score for Olivet. Walters was able to score for the Thunder in the closing minutes of the first half. Shane Prunty scored for the Comets to allow Olivet to lead 10-3 over Trine going into the second half.
The Thunder mounted the bulk of its comeback attempt in the third. Maher scored the first goal with the assist coming from Conner Putman (Ridgefield, Conn. / Ridgefield), followed by Eric Peal (Imperial, Mo. / Seckman) scoring by the dish from Grise. Bailey stopped Trine's run when he scored an unassisted goal.
Trine answered back quickly when Maher scored his second goal of the game with the assist by Jordan Lelito (West Chicago, Ill. / West Chicago). In the last five minutes of the third quarter Grise scored another goal for Trine to cut the Comets' lead to four, 11-7. Neil Orr (Lombard, Ill. / Montini Catholic) got the Thunder just over a minute later with a goal of his own. The run continued with Maher scoring his third of the game. The assist came from Lelito.
The fourth quarter started with Trine continuing its scoring run and closing in on Olivet's lead to trail by one. Tyler Klima (Schaumburg, Ill. / Schaumburg) scored the goal with the pass coming from Grise. With five minutes left in the game, the Comets' made its lead two with a goal coming from Bailey. Sanders increase Olivet's lead to three with his score with 1:19 to play in the game.
Trine hosts Hope on Senior Day this Saturday, Apr. 29 at 1 p.m. The Thunder need a win to keep its MIAA postseason chances alive. A win would give Trine the advantage in a head-to-head tie with Hope in the standings. A Thunder win and Alma loss would force a three-way tiebreaker decided by goal differential.
Article contributed by Cody Konieczki, Trine University '17