Dearborn, MI – The field was wet and sloppy, and you could argue the game was just as messy as the UM Dearborn Wolverines hosted the AQ Saints on Saturday afternoon. However, Aquinas capitalized on an explosive start, jumping out to a 7-1 lead in the first quarter and cruising to a 13-8 victory.

Aquinas 13, UM Dearborn 8

The Aquinas men's lacrosse team came out firing, setting the tone early with a dominant first quarter. Oliver Modderman led the charge with a hat trick as the Saints built a commanding lead they never relinquished.

Aquinas wasted no time making an impact, as TJ Murphy struck unassisted just 40 seconds into the game. Carter Braam and Cade Linnemeyer quickly followed with goals of their own, and within the first five minutes, the Saints had stormed to a 4-0 advantage. Collin Wildman, Modderman, and Brady Waling added to the tally, pushing the lead to 7-1 by the end of the opening period.

UM Dearborn fought back in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 7-4 with three straight goals. However, the Saints responded emphatically in the third, with Modderman, Wildman, Murphy, Dillon Wieschhorster, and Reed Chastain all finding the back of the net to extend the lead to 12-4. Despite a late push from the Wolverines, Aquinas maintained control, sealing the win with an Alex Rolands goal in the fourth quarter.

The Saints' offense was propelled by standout performances from Modderman (3 goals, 1 assist), Wildman (2 goals, 1 assist), and Linnemeyer (1 goal, 2 assists). Defensively, Aquinas held firm, limiting Michigan's opportunities and controlling possession throughout the contest.

Inside the Numbers:

• Oliver Modderman paced the Saints in scoring with a hat trick (3 goals).
• Collin Wildman and TJ Murphy each contributed two goals for Aquinas.
• Ten different Saints scored in the game, with Nico Kittridge leading AQ with three assists.
• Face-offs: Aquinas dominated at the X, winning 15 of 24 face-offs against UM Dearborn.

Coach's Take:

Head coach Peter Treppa emphasized the importance of playing a complete game and sticking to the game plan:

"We got off to a great start but slowed down due to a slew of penalties and mistakes in the middle of the field. Our pace of play and physicality between the lines both helped and hurt us at different points in the game.

We knew Dearborn was a resilient team that would fight back regardless of the lead we built early on. Credit to them for staying composed, weathering the storm, and stringing together a run that forced us to refocus and play disciplined lacrosse. In the end, we had nine different goal scorers, and our defense limited them to just 16 shots on goal. We weren't perfect, but we took advantage of their mistakes at crucial moments."

Up Next:

Aquinas will once again hit the road, returning to Ann Arbor to challenge Concordia. AQ and the Cardinals are set for a Wednesday afternoon match-up at 4:00 PM. For updates, recaps, and stats, visit AQSaints.com for complete coverage of AQ athletics.