The #5 Aquinas men's lacrosse team had a dominant home WHAC win over Concordia at the AQ Athletic Field on Wednesday (Apr. 6). After being tied 1-1 after the first quarter, the Saints went on a 14-0 run through the second quarter and into the third period, eventually dismantling the Cardinals 23-2. AQ improves to 5-3 (3-1 WHAC) on the season, while CUAA drops to 1-7 (1-3 WHAC).

The first quarter was quiet offensively with only a goal scored by each team. Kevin LaHaie gave the Saints the early lead at the 14:35 mark, but the Cardinals scored the equalizer with just under six minutes remaining while having a man advantage. 

Something clicked in between quarters for AQ as the team would shutout CUAA in the second quarter and scored 12 unanswered goals. Joey Fitzgerald scored the first goal of the run at the 12:51 mark with Zachary Sweet following up with a goal of his own a minute later. Fitzgerald found the back of the net two more times at the 11:30 and 8:20 minute marks to make the score 5-1. Mitch Haggart then got in on the scoring action with two consecutive goals himself. Jon Jardis also scored two straight goals to make the scoreboard read 9-1. Sweet netted another goal with a man advantage as LaHaie and Brady Waling also got in on the fun with one goal a piece. Sweet scored one last time with 10 seconds remaining as the Saints took a 13-1 advantage into halftime.

AQ would scored the first two goals out of the break with Sweet and Kyle Gauthier netting the goals to make it 14 straight for the Saints. CUAA finally got another goal in the net to break the streak, but it would be the last one they scored in the game. Jardis beat the Cardinals' defense for one more goal in the third period and take a 16-2 lead.

Concordia was also shut out in the fourth quarter by the Aquinas defense, while the Saints went on the score seven more goals. Sweet got his team-high fifth goal of the game to start out the final period with Tim Shacklette, Blake Baker, Hunter Roberts (2), and Alex Rolands (2) rounding out the scoring opportunities.

Jardis had his fingerprints all over the game by finishing with a team-leading seven points on three goals and four assists. Roberts tied Jardis in the assists category with four and added two goals for six points. 

Clayton Boerigter improved his record to 5-3 in net by allowing two goals and collecting seven saves in nearly 50 minutes of action. Austin Hynote and Ricky Vega also got a chance to get some time in net and picked up a save a piece.

Aquinas outshot Concordia 80-29, including holding a 55-11 advantage in shots on net. The defense forced the Cardinals into 29 turnovers compared to the Saints' 13. AQ also held advantages in clears (27-17), ground balls (45-30), and face-offs (16-12), while both teams converted twice on extra man opportunities.

The Saints will hit the road for their next WHAC match-up against Cleary on Friday (Apr. 8) in Howell, Michigan, with the opening face-off scheduled for 6:00 PM.