Grand Rapids, Mich. — The Aquinas College No. 7 men's lacrosse team hosted their second home game of the season with a top-10 match up against the No. Cardinals of Concordia. The two teams started off the contest neck and neck, one team jumping a head, only to be brought back even with an equalizer goal. Even though the contest started close, it didn't end as such. The Cardinals flew away in the second. At the final horn CUAA claimed victory, 17-7.
Concordia 17, Aquinas 7
Before the contest even began there was a hum of energy on the field. The previous Coaches Poll placed Aquinas at No. 6 and Concordia at No. 7. The newest poll saw the two dominant WHAC teams swap. The Saints entered the pitch looking to prove they should be number six while also attempting to keep their season record spotless. While the Cardinals looked to take down the Saints and hand them their first loss of the season.
The Cardinals were the first to strike and did so in strong fashion, earning the first point within the opening five minutes.
Cade Linnemeyer rebutted for Aquinas minutes later.
Concordia found another, bumping it 2-1. CUAA's defense went on to hold the Saints back but it couldn't hold them forever as Cooper Neinhuis smacked in his equalizer with an assist from
Jack Rioux.
Braeden Williams then capitalized on another offensive drive with an assist from Neinhuis, this time the Saints were out in front for the first time this game at 3-2.
But the Cardinals couldn't go out in such a fashion and collected two more goals. Once again putting them ahead, this time 4-3.
Brady Waling plowed his way through the defense and sunk his shot to equalize the score 4-4. Soon after the quarters horn sounded, at the end of first the teams were tied in this heated contest.
The second quarter saw the Cardinals sink in their talons as they claimed nine straight goals, pushing the difference to 13-4.
Entering the third quarter the Cardinals still had hold of the Saints and didn't intend to let go. CUAA pushed in three more goals giving them 14 straight.
AQ alleviated some pressure with a goal from
TJ Murphy, but no further scoring occurred in the third. The Cardinals had grown their advantage 17-5.
The fourth quarter saw the least amount of scoring as CUAA found one while AQ notched two: Nienhuis and Waling.
AQ could not muster any further goals as in time the clock came to expire. The final horn placed the Cardinals over the Saints, 17-7.
By the Numbers
Neinhuis tallied three points with two goals and one assist. Waling notched two goals. While Linnemeyer, Williams, and Murphy all stamped one.
Concordia held 59 shots to Aquinas' 33.
CUAA collected 37 ground balls to AQ's 27.
Cardinals won 18 face offs to the Saints 10.
Up Next
The No. 7-ranked Saints return to road play with a 1 p.m. game with Taylor on Saturday (Apr. 6).
