Box Score SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – What a difference 72 hours can make.
On Saturday evening, the outlook seemed grim for the Saints. Aquinas had just suffered a heartbreaking 12-11 overtime loss on Senior Night, a game in which they clawed back from a 9-1 deficit only to fall short. Then came the news: senior standout Reed Chastain was suspended for a controversial play. With that, AQ Men's Lacrosse had every reason to fold on Tuesday and call it a season.
Every reason—except a coach who refuses to quit, and a group of young men who simply don't know the meaning of the word.
Put that together and, well, good luck, Lawrence Tech.
#9 Aquinas 19, #8 Lawrence Tech 9
Aquinas Men's Lacrosse delivered a complete performance Tuesday afternoon, using a dominant second and third quarter to power past Lawrence Tech 19-9 in the WHAC Conference Tournament Quarterfinals. With the win, the Saints (10-4, 4-3 WHAC) advance to the semifinals, where they'll face top-seeded Indiana Tech on Thursday in Fort Wayne.
Ten different Saints found the back of the net, highlighting Aquinas' deep and balanced offensive attack. Cade Linnemeyer and Alex Rolands led the way with hat tricks, while Brady Waling, Evan Doan, Cory Holmes, and TJ Murphy each tallied two goals.
Fast Start, Stronger Finish
Lawrence Tech struck first, scoring just over a minute into the game. But the Saints answered quickly—and often. Aquinas scored four goals in the opening quarter, then pulled away with a five-goal second frame, capped by unassisted tallies from Waling and Rolands to take a commanding 9-4 halftime lead.
From there, Aquinas never looked back.
The Saints exploded for six goals in the third quarter, featuring highlight-reel plays from Doan, Rolands, and Holmes. Defensively, AQ clamped down, limiting the Blue Devils to just three goals in the frame—two of which came on extra-man opportunities.
Team Effort on Display
Depth made the difference for Aquinas. In addition to six players scoring multiple goals, Dillon Wieschhorster chipped in with a goal and two assists, while Collin Wildman added a goal and a game-high three helpers. Linnemeyer tacked on an assist to go with his three-goal afternoon, and Waling finished with four points on two goals and two assists.
On the defensive end, Aquinas held Lawrence Tech to just one goal in the second quarter and two in the fourth, locking down the game when it mattered most. The loss ends the Blue Devils' season at 9-5 (4-3 WHAC).
By the Numbers
Coach's Comments
Following the statement win, Head Coach Peter Treppa reflected on the team's resilience:
"The team played four full quarters of focused, disciplined lacrosse, and that effort was evident in every aspect of the game. Our tough in-conference losses earlier this month served as a harsh reminder that you can't afford to take a quarter off or start slow if you want to come out with a win.
At this point in the season, the guys understand that we're fighting for the chance to have one more practice, one more bus ride, one more team meal, and hopefully, one more game.
I'm proud of the entire team for playing complementary lacrosse and supporting each other through the highs and lows. One player who truly stepped up today was senior Noah Szarejko. His unit battled on every faceoff and secured key possessions that helped us build momentum and limit their ability to go on a scoring run."
What's Next
The Saints (10-4) now shift their focus back to a familiar foe: the Indiana Tech Warriors, ranked No. 3 nationally. Aquinas will travel to Fort Wayne for Thursday's WHAC Conference Semifinals, with faceoff set for 7:00 PM.
Be sure to visit aqsaints.com for game recaps, scores, stats, and everything you need to follow Aquinas Athletics.
Coach Treppa talks about tomorrow:
"While we're happy with the win, we know that tomorrow is a new day, and we have to get back to work. On Thursday, we travel to Fort Wayne for a rematch with an extremely talented Indiana Tech team."
