ALMA, MICH.-- The Trine men's lacrosse team earned their second-consecutive MIAA-victory, defeating Alma 8-5 Saturday night at Bahlke Field.
After falling behind 2-0 after a quarter, the Thunder went on a six-goal run to take a lead they would not relinquish. George Youpel (Chicago Ridge, Ill./St. Rita) and Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St. Rita) each scored two goals, while Patrick Walker (Round Lake Park, Ill./Grayslake North) added a goal and an assist for a two-point night. Kyle Schnitzer scored three goals and added an assist to lead the Alma attack. Trine improves to 2-8 overall and opens MIAA-play 2-0. The Scots fall to 5-7 overall, 0-2 in league play.
Trine outshot Alma by a dominating 47-14 margin. The Thunder held a 40-29 edge in ground balls and won 11-of-16 faceoffs. Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) was responsible for Trine's commanding edge in the faceoff circle.
After two Scot goals, Youpel got the Thunder on the board off a pass from Brandon Walters (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) with 29 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Trine continued their run into the second quarter with four-consecutive goals. A Ward goal 17 seconds into the quarter knotted the score at two-apiece. Jake Ahearn (Naperville, Ill./Naperville) put TU up with 9:21 remaining. The Thunder added man-up goals from Youpel and Ward later in the quarter to take a 5-2 lead into the half.
Brzezinski scored 12 seconds into the third quarter to give Trine their largest lead at 6-2. A pair of goals by Schnitzer cut the Thunder lead to 6-4, but that was as close as the Scots would get the rest of the way.
Trine takes a break from conference play when they host Wilmington (Ohio) this Wednesday, Apr. 9 as part of NCAA Division III Week in Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium.
