Fort Wayne, IN – Revenge is a dish best served cold. While the spring weather may finally be warming up, the dish the AQ men's lacrosse team is serving is ice cold—call it a frozen popsicle with a side of redemption.

Though the Saints ended the regular season on a two-game slide, nothing has shaken the core spirit that Coach Peter Treppa has instilled in his squad. The belief was always there—the talent to compete at the national level. But somewhere over the past week, this team has tapped into something deeper. Heart.

This run is about more than redemption. It's about pride. It's about proving people wrong. But above all, it's about playing for their brothers.

The new team creed? One more.
One more practice. One more film session. One more bus ride. One more team meal. One more day to play the game they love—and to do it together.

#8 Aquinas 12, #5 Indiana Tech 11

In a dramatic WHAC Conference semifinal showdown under the lights at Warrior Athletic Field, the #8-seeded Aquinas men's lacrosse team stunned #5 Indiana Tech with a 12-11 upset victory on Thursday night, punching their ticket to the WHAC Championship game.

Trailing by one with under nine minutes remaining, Aquinas leaned on its veteran leadership and explosive offense to deliver two clutch goals and seal the win over a Warriors team that had lost just once in conference play all year.

Brady Waling and Nico Kittredge powered the offense with three goals each. Waling added the game-tying assist, and Kittredge buried the eventual game-winner.

Back-and-Forth Battle

The game opened with both teams trading early blows—2-2 after the first quarter. Aquinas edged ahead 4-2 in the second, thanks to goals from Kittredge and Alex Rolands, but Indiana Tech clawed back to tie it 4-4 heading into halftime.

The third quarter became the difference-maker. Aquinas exploded for six goals from five different players. The run featured a go-ahead goal from TJ Murphy and a laser from Cade Linnemeyer to stretch the lead to 9-6. Kittredge capped the surge with his second goal of the game, giving AQ a 10-6 advantage heading into the final frame.

Holding Off the Warriors

But Indiana Tech wasn't done. Led by Cooper Langille's four-goal performance, the Warriors mounted a furious fourth-quarter rally, cutting the deficit to one goal three separate times.

With the score tied 10-10, Waling found Kittredge for the go-ahead goal with just 2:09 remaining. Langille answered in the final 90 seconds, but the Saints defense refused to fold. Aquinas held strong in the final moments to preserve the win and complete the upset.

The stats can be deceiving

Despite being outshot 48-25, Aquinas made every opportunity count—landing 17 shots on goal and converting key chances. Goalie play was crucial, with the Saints collecting 14 saves, including four in the final quarter. AQ also dominated faceoffs 17-10 and finished 6-for-8 on clears.

Aquinas improves to 11-4 overall and advances to the WHAC Championship game. Indiana Tech finishes the season at 13-3. Just five days after a heartbreaking 12-11 overtime loss to these same Warriors, the Saints flipped the script—and wrote a much sweeter sequel.

Scoring Leaders – Aquinas
Brady Waling (3 goals, 1 assist)
Nico Kittredge (3 goals, 2 assists)
Collin Wildman (2 goals)
Oliver Modderman (1 goal)
Cade Linnemeyer (1 goal, 1 assist)
Alex Rolands (1 goal)
TJ Murphy (1 goal)

By the Numbers
• Nico Kittredge: 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points, 2 ground balls, 2 caused turnovers
• Brady Waling: 3 goals, 1 assist, 4 points
• Collin Wildman: 2 goals, 5 ground balls, 2 caused turnovers
• TJ Murphy: 1 goal, 5 ground balls, 2 caused turnovers

Coach's Comments

Following the win, Head Coach Peter Treppa offered heartfelt reflections:

"I'm so proud of this team and the way we've come together over the past two weeks. Tough losses do one of two things this time of year: they either bring a team together or break it apart.

After that heartbreaking overtime loss on Senior Night, we saw raw emotion. We saw how much these guys care about each other. That loss could've broken us, but instead, it lit a fire.

Tonight's win is more than just a number in the win column. It's a reflection of our seniors' heart, grit, and relentless dedication. It's been 2,176 days since our last win over Indiana Tech. For our seniors, it's the first. And what a time to step up and leave a legacy.

Our execution wasn't perfect, but the fight was undeniable. We battled for every possession, every loose ball. Defensively, Austin Hynote and his unit answered the call and shut down one of the most dangerous offenses in the conference. We didn't just hold our ground—we held the WHAC Offensive Player of the Year to zero goals and zero assists. That's team defense.

But this win isn't just about advancing. It's about earning one more day together. One more film session. One more practice. One more meal. One more moment with this family.

Ask anyone in our locker room how they feel right now, and you'll hear the same thing: the job isn't finished. We're ready to go to war in Ann Arbor this Saturday."

What's Next

The Saints (11-4) now prepare for the WHAC Championship game against top-seeded Concordia. AQ travels to Ann Arbor for Saturday's title match-up, with face-off set for 1:00 PM. The winner earns a bid to the NAIA National Championship Tournament.

Stay updated with game recaps, scores, stats, and more at aqsaints.com.