Box Score GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In their toughest test of the young season, the No. 8-ranked Aquinas Saints men's lacrosse team showed grit and resilience, rallying in the second half to secure a 9-6 victory over Benedictine (KS) on Tuesday night at home. After two commanding wins to open the season, the Saints faced their first true battle, going into halftime locked in a 3-3 stalemate before pulling away in the final quarters.
A Game of Momentum Swings The Saints wasted no time setting the tone as T.J. Murphy found the back of the net just five minutes into the contest. Benedictine responded with a man-up goal by Harry Milligan, but Aquinas struck back quickly through Alex Rolands, assisted by Brady Waling, to reclaim the lead. The visiting Ravens fought back in the second quarter, netting two straight goals to take their first lead at 3-2. Murphy, determined to keep the Saints within striking distance, delivered his second goal of the night to even the score at halftime.
Out of the break, Aquinas turned up the intensity. Oliver Modderman fired home an early third-quarter goal off a feed from Nico Kittredge, giving the Saints a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Waling followed with back-to-back goals, including a man-up strike assisted by Collin Wildman, extending the lead to 6-3 heading into the final quarter.
Benedictine attempted to mount a late comeback, but the Aquinas defense held strong. Goals from Cade Linnemeyer, Wildman, and a second tally from Rolands ensured the Saints remained in control. The Ravens managed to cut the deficit with two late goals, but time ran out on their rally, securing Aquinas' third straight win.
With the win, Aquinas improves to 3-0 and hopes to climb up from #8 in the latest NAIA top 10 rankings.
By the Numbers
Coach's Take
Head coach Peter Treppa praised his team's poise in a tightly contested match-up.
"The first half was an all-out defensive battle. I'm proud of the way our team maintained composure throughout the contest. The defense stacked together stops at pivotal points in the game, bringing home the win."
Up Next
The Saints now set their sights on a road showdown against St. Ambrose in Chicago, IL. The match-up is set for 3 PM on Saturday. Stay tuned to AQSaints.com for updates as the Saints look to extend their unbeaten start to the season.
