ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Aquinas men's lacrosse team saw its WHAC Championship dreams come to an end on Saturday afternoon, falling 17-10 to top-seeded Concordia at Ferry Field.

While no player or coach will say they are satisfied with the result, the "one more" motto that fueled this team all season allowed them to finish with a deeper love for the game, their school, and, most importantly, their teammates. This is a squad that should be proud of how they stepped up this week — and with a bounce here or a break there, they could have been WHAC champs. Regardless, Coach Peter Treppa's team will be forever remembered for their heart, character, and relentless spirit.

Concordia 17, Aquinas 10

The Saints (11-5, 4-3 WHAC) started strong, grabbing an early 3-2 lead after the first quarter with goals from Oliver Modderman, Alex Rolands, and TJ Murphy. Modderman struck first just over three minutes into the contest, and Murphy capped the opening frame with an unassisted score.

Aquinas briefly extended its lead to 4-3 early in the second quarter when Modderman found the net again, this time assisted by Cade Linnemeyer. But Concordia (11-5, 5-2 WHAC) responded with a dominant second quarter, outscoring AQ 6-2 and taking an 8-5 lead into halftime. Travis Wright and Cooper Regimbal led the surge, combining for five of CUAA's goals in the period.

The Saints tried to mount a comeback in the second half. Rolands tallied his second goal of the day early in the third, pulling Aquinas within 8-6. However, Concordia's offense stayed hot, stretching the lead to 11-6 by the end of the third quarter.

In a wild fourth quarter, both teams traded blows. Linnemeyer, Rolands, and Brady Waling scored in quick succession, trimming Concordia's advantage to 12-9 with just under nine minutes left. Modderman completed his hat trick late, but CUAA answered each Aquinas surge, finishing strong with five fourth-quarter goals to secure the title.

Rolands and Modderman each scored three times for the Saints, while Murphy added a pair. Waling and Linnemeyer chipped in one goal apiece.

The Saints fought valiantly in front of a crowd of 500, but ultimately came up short against a potent Concordia squad, but will be the strong late run, gives them the silver medal in the WHAC Tournament.

Inside the Numbers:

• Oliver Modderman: Hat Trick – 3 goals, 6 ground balls
• Alex Rolands: Hat Trick – 3 goals
• TJ Murphy: 2 goals, 3 ground balls, 1 caused turnover
• Brady Waling: 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points

Coach's Comments

Following the heartbreaking defeat, Coach Peter Treppa spoke about the season and his team:
"First, we congratulate Concordia, they played some amazing lacrosse today.  It hurts, but this group left everything out on the field. Their commitment to each other, to our program, and to the 'one more' mentality made this season incredibly special. I couldn't be prouder of these men, both on and off the field."

Up Next

The Saints now play the waiting game, hoping the NAIA will select them as an at-large team for the Men's Lacrosse National Championship tournament, May 7-10, 2025, in Savannah, Georgia. Whether or not they receive the bid, this team is already a winning group — one that the entire Aquinas community can be proud of.