ANGOLA, Ind. – After taking a lead into halftime, the Trine University men's lacrosse team pulled away with a strong final quarter, taking their Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opener over visiting Alma College by the score of 10-6.
The Thunder struck first in the contest when they scored with 12:33 remaining in the first period. The goal was set up by a penalty called against the Scots giving the home team a man-up opportunity. Freshman Charlie Anderson (Howell, Mich. / Hartland) scored the goal with junior Andrew Douglas (Liberty Twp., Ohio / Lakota East) adding an assist.
After Alma tied the contest at one with just over 11 minutes remaining, the final two goals of the period would go to Trine as they pulled ahead taking a 3-1 lead into the first break. Senior Matt Zanichelli (Rolling Meadows, Ill. / William Fremd) and junior Noah Markus (Woodbury, Minn. / East Ridge) tallied the goals.
The second quarter saw only two goals scored, one for each team, both coming in the final minutes of the half. The Thunder goal couldn't have come any later in the period. After a turnover in the defensive end with just ten seconds remaining, sophomore goalie Nick DiPaolo (Flemington, N.J. / Immaculate) launched the ball the length of the field where Zanichelli received it and immediately fired the shot home giving the team a 4-2 lead going into the intermission.
The Scots would go on a run of their own in the third period, scoring the first four goals of the second half and taking their first lead of the game at 6-4. The run was aided by a few Trine penalties with two of the goals coming from a man-up situation.
The Thunder closed that gap in the final minute of the quarter, scoring the final two goals of the period to tie the game at 6-6 going into the final break. Sophomore Klein Burkholder (Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) scored the first goal for the team, a quick shot off from the middle off of a pass from Zanichelli. Anderson would do the same in the waning seconds with the pass coming from freshman Patrick Doyle (Fishers, Ind. / Cathedral).
The tie was the last of the game as Trine scored four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to pull away to the 10-6 victory. Zanichelli, Markus, Douglas and Anderson would each tally a goal during the stretch.
DiPaolo played the game in goal for the team and finished the contest with 14 saves, allowing just four goals, and adding two groundballs. Senior Dave Keptner (Midland, Mich. / H.H. Dow) led the team with nine groundballs in the game.
The Thunder improve to 7-1 overall and 1-0 in MIAA play following the victory. They will continue their season when they travel to face Calvin University on Tuesday, April 12. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.