ADRIAN, Mich. — TJ Murphy continued his electric campaign with a four-goal showcase on Wednesday night, including a pair of man-up strikes, as the Aquinas men's lacrosse team powered past Siena Heights 15-10 in WHAC action. With the victory, the Saints improved to 9-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while Siena Heights slid to 5-7 and remains winless in league action at 0-6.

Fast Start Sets the Tone

It didn't take long for Aquinas to assert itself. Just 1:22 into the contest, Murphy broke the ice off a feed from Brady Waling. That early spark ignited a strong first quarter, with the Saints building a 4-2 lead behind additional goals from Cade Linnemeyer and Dillon Wieschhorster.

The offense stayed hot in the second frame, as Aquinas outpaced the home team 4-3 to take an 8-5 lead into halftime. Waling and Murphy fueled the effort, combining for five points in the opening half. Waling was especially sharp, netting two goals and dishing out two assists before the break.

Third-Quarter Surge Breaks It Open

Aquinas delivered its most dominant stretch in the third quarter, shutting out Siena Heights 4-0 to seize full control. Four different Saints—Murphy, Waling, Alex Rolands, and Andrew Wildman—found the back of the net in a clinical display of ball movement and finishing.

The defensive unit was just as impressive, swarming Siena Heights and forcing multiple turnovers while goalie play and clears kept SHU from building any rhythm.

Late Push Not Enough for Siena Heights

The Saints' seven-goal cushion heading into the final quarter proved too much for Siena Heights to overcome. The hosts managed to net five goals in the fourth, including two in the final two minutes, but Aquinas responded with three of its own to keep the margin comfortable.

Murphy completed his four-goal night in the final stretch, while Rolands notched his second of the game to stamp the win.

By the Numbers

• TJ Murphy led all scorers with four goals and an assist, including two on man-up opportunities.
• Brady Waling finished with three goals and two assists in a dynamic performance.
• Alex Rolands and Nolan Benoit each tallied twice to highlight Aquinas' offensive depth.
• The Saints outshot Siena Heights 50-22 and held a 32-17 edge in shots on goal.
• Aquinas was dominant on the draw, winning 22 of 29 face-offs, and nearly flawless on clears (20-for-21).
• The Saints scooped up 39 ground balls, compared to SHU's 26, and forced 23 turnovers on the night.
• SHU's goalie made 17 saves to keep the scoreline respectable.

Coach Treppa's Take

Head coach Peter Treppa praised his team's execution but emphasized the need to stay locked in with the postseason looming:

"I'm proud of the way our guys executed tonight—especially on the defensive end and in key possession moments. It's a solid road win, but we know there's still work to do. Indiana Tech is the top team in the conference for a reason, and we'll need to be sharp in all phases. That game is a great test before the WHAC tournament starts Tuesday, and we're excited for the challenge."

What's Next

Aquinas wraps up the regular season on Saturday with a pivotal matchup against conference powerhouse Indiana Tech. Not only does the game have major implications for WHAC tournament seeding—it's also Senior Day at the AQ Athletic Field. Face-off is set for 4:00 PM.