Sylvania, Ohio. — The #6 Aquinas College men's lacrosse team traveled down to Sylvania, Ohio, to take on the Gray Wolves of Lourdes for their first conference match of the season today (Mar. 23). The Saints looked to take the win and remain undefeated while the Gray Wolves hoped to topple the #6 Saints. Lourdes struck first, but Aquinas went on to take control of the contest. At the final horn, AQ had pushed the difference to 20-11, securing the win and maintained its undefeated streak.

Aquinas 20, Lourdes 11

The match stood at a standstill until the Gray Wolves pushed through the silence with the first goal just under five minutes into the match.

Lourdes struck first, but Aquinas turned and finished out the quarter on top with two goals. Braeden Williams and Cade Linnemeyer tallied a score, as both were assisted by Cooper Nienhuis.

Starting the second quarter, Nienhuis changed course and followed his two assists by two goals. Lourdes found a rebuttal soon after, pushing the score to 6-2 in favor of AQ. 

With less than six minutes remaining in the quarter, the Saints put up seven goals. Brady Waling, Dean Cooper, Nienhuis all scored with assists coming by way of Waling, Cooper (2), Oliver Modderman, Linnemeyer, Nienhuis assisted by Williams.

The Saints continued the push with two more goals to start the third: Williams assisted by TJ Murphy, and Nienhuis assisted by Linnemeyer. This continuous Aquinas offense pushed the score to 13-2.

Lourdes found three goals to answer the offensive onslaught to make it 13-5. To finish the third the Saints collected three more goals, while Lourdes notched four: Nienhuis assisted by Cooper, Williams assisted by Nienhuis, and Tobin Brems. The scoreboard read 16-9 at the final horn of the third.

AQ returned to an offensive front in the final quarter with four straight goals: Niehuis assisted by Williams, Alex Rolands, Linnemeyer, Nienhuis assisted by Jake Koning.

Lourdes collected the final two scores of the contest but it was already too far as the final score read 20-11.

The #6 Saints had entered Sylvania undefeated and left the same, this time with their first conference win under their belt. 

Not only have the Saints continued their hot streak, but this is the best start the Aquinas men's lacrosse program has even seen.

By the Numbers

Nienhuis continues his dominance streak with eight points and three assists totaling 11 points.

Williams notched a hat trick with with two additional assists, equaling five points.

Cooper also collected a hat trick with one assist, granting him four points. 

Linnemeyer tallied two goals and two assists.

Waling earned one goal and one assist.

Modderman, Brems, Koning, Rolands, and Murphy all notched one point.

Aquinas had 50 shots to Lourdes 32.

Up Next

Aquinas has finished their away spree and will host their first home game of the season with a 12 p.m. start time on Saturday (Mar. 30) against UM-Dearborn.