Livonia, Mich. — The Aquinas College #7 men's lacrosse team traveled to Livonia, Michigan, to take on the (RV) Crusaders of Madonna. AQ entered the game looking to extend its revived win streak and advance to 10-1 in overall standing. MU entered the contest coming off a win against UM-Dearborn and a three point win over #9 Indiana Tech. However, Madonna's end of the season success was no match for the Saints as they entered and exited Livonia with their streak in tack. AQ defeated the Crusaders 21-8.

Aquinas 21, Madonna 8

The contest began with the Crusaders earning the first face off and marched it down the pitch, but Austin Hynote continued to be the rock for the AQ defense and denied the shot. The Saints quickly turned to the offensive and sunk their first shot in for a goal just 66 seconds into the game. Cade Linnemeyer collected the first goal with a pass from Brady Waling. Madonna did muster a response quickly as they found an equalizer within the next minute of play. 

Within the next four minutes AQ picked up three goals, all of which were unassisted. Waling, Cam Gunn, and Dean Cooper all tallied their first goals of the contest. MU only found one goal in its rebuttal, but Cooper could accept it and notched his second goal with an assist from Linnemeyer. At the end of the first AQ held a 5-2 lead.

The second quarter is where the Saints cranked it to eleven as they scored six goals and only allowed one. Linnemeyer from Alex Rolands, TJ Murphy from Cooper, Waling, Cooper Nienhuis assisted by Cooper (2), and Braeden Williams placed the cherry on top with the sixth goal with just two seconds remaining in the half. Now, AQ held an 11-3 advantage over the (RV) Crusaders.

Coming out after halftime Aquinas, still had all the momentum and continued its offensive drives, this time finding five goals and allowing three. Collin Wildman, Murphy from Waling, Nienhuis from Williams, Cooper assisted by Linnemeyer, and Williams from Cooper. The Saints push continued on the scoreboard and this time AQ held a difference of 16-4.

The Crusaders managed to deafen the music and found a four goal stretch with two coming in the end of the third and two to start the fourth. But the Saints continued to produce and stamped in five more goals before the final horn. Williams notched two unassisted back-to-back, Linnemeyer found another, this time from Rolands, Rolands got his own piece of the pie with a pass from Williams, and the took the last slice with help from Gunn. 

The final horn sang out to another AQ victory; Aquinas 21, Madonna 8.

By the Numbers

AQ narrowly out shot Madonna 42 to 39. Aquinas got low and earned 31 ground balls to MU's 28.

Cooper was the main man for the Saints this week with seven points, four assists with a hat trick. Williams saddled up next with six points, four goals and two assists. Linnemeyer claimed third with five points, a hat trick and two assists.

Waling and Rolands were in tandem, both two goals and two assists for four total points. Nienhuis continued his offensive streak with another hat trick.

Overall, four Saints walked away with a hat trick or more on the day. 

Up Next

Aquinas will finish out the season out on the road with a Saturday (Apr. 20) top-10 contest against #9 Indiana Tech.