Grand Rapids, Mich. — Championship-caliber teams don't flinch… they respond.
Just a few days after a tough setback to the top-ranked team in the country, the #3-ranked Aquinas Saints returned home with every opportunity to make excuses — weather delays, schedule shifts, and a quality opponent waiting. Instead, Coach Peter Treppa's squad did what great teams do: they answered the bell, flipped the script, and reminded everyone exactly who they are. Game on, indeed.
#3 Aquinas 21, Taylor 11
From the opening faceoff, the Saints came out with purpose and pace, jumping on Taylor early and often. Jake Koning wasted no time, striking twice in the opening minutes off feeds from TJ Murphy and Braeden Williams to ignite a fast start. Collin Wildman added to the early barrage, while Murphy and Oliver Modderman kept the offense humming as AQ built a 6-2 lead after one.
The second quarter saw Aquinas separate. Wildman found the net multiple times, Murphy continued to orchestrate at an elite level, and Mitchell Pridgeon and Cory Holmes added key finishes as the Saints stretched the advantage to 13-6 at the break.
The game took an unexpected turn late in the half, as lightning in the area forced a 30-minute delay with 6:33 remaining in the second quarter. For many teams, that kind of interruption can halt momentum — but not this group.
Out of the delay, the Saints stayed locked in.
Taylor made its push in the third quarter, scoring three straight goals to cut into the lead and create a pivotal stretch. But Aquinas never wavered. The Saints answered, regained control, and methodically pulled away.
TJ Murphy delivered another dominant performance with four goals and five assists, while Collin Wildman led all scorers with five goals and an assist. Jake Koning added four goals of his own, Mitchell Pridgeon netted three, and Oliver Modderman contributed two goals and an assist.
Braeden Williams added a goal and three assists, while Ian Wright and Cory Holmes each chipped in a goal to round out a balanced offensive effort that saw eight Saints find the back of the net.
Defensively, Aquinas controlled the tone. The Saints held a 49-38 advantage in ground balls, went 27-of-33 on clears, and consistently disrupted Taylor's rhythm. Jaiden Woodson and Blake Syzmanski were active throughout, William Larriuz battled at the faceoff X, and Austin Hynote anchored the Saints with 17 saves.
When the final whistle sounded, Aquinas had turned a potential trap game into a statement victory.
The Saints improve to 11-2 overall and 7-2 in WHAC play, while Taylor falls to 7-7 overall and 3-6 in conference action.
100th Career Point for Braeden Williams
Big-time players deliver in big-time moments.
With 9:27 remaining in the third quarter, and Taylor riding a 3-0 run to cut the deficit to four, the game sat on the edge. Momentum was shifting, and the next goal would carry weight.
That's when Braeden Williams stepped in.
Off a perfectly placed feed from Collin Wildman, the junior from Ada fired home a goal that did more than just stop the run — it marked his 100th career point in an Aquinas uniform.
A milestone moment that came exactly when the Saints needed it most.
The goal steadied AQ, shifted the energy back to the home sideline, and helped spark the run that ultimately put the game out of reach.
Saints Snapshots
• Pick your poison offense — Eight different Saints scored, with Collin Wildman (5G) and TJ Murphy (4G, 5A) leading a unit that kept Taylor guessing all night
• The engine — Murphy's 9-point night wasn't just production, it was control… tempo, spacing, and the tone of the entire attack ran through No. 4
• Possession wins championships — AQ dominated the gritty areas with a 49-38 edge in ground balls and a sharp 27-of-33 clearing effort
• Weather the moment — 30-minute lightning delay, zero drop-off… the Saints came out of the break with the same edge they started with
• Answer delivered — After Taylor's 3-0 run in the third, AQ responded immediately and never let the Trojans breathe again
Coach's Comments
Head Coach Peter Treppa reflected on the performance:
"We don't get to choose the circumstances, it's a character check— whether it's Madonna, the weather, or anything else — we choose how we respond. I'm proud of our guys because they showed tonight that no matter what's in front of them, they're going to compete, adjust, and keep pushing forward."
Up Next
The Saints hit the road as the regular season continues.
Aquinas travels to Southfield, Michigan on Saturday for a key WHAC matchup against the Blue Devils of Lawrence Tech. Opening faceoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and full postgame coverage of AQ Men's Lacrosse and all Saints sports.
