Thunder Men's Lacrosse News
5/6 - Brzezinski Named Men’s Lacrosse All-MIAA First Team
Madsen and Backer Named Second Team
ROYAL, OAK, Mich. - The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has named Trine University men’s lacrosse junior Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) First Team All-MIAA in the first season of action for the MIAA. Senior Dalton Madsen (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn) and freshman Jordan Backer (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) were also named to the All-MIAA Second Team.
Brzezinski, a faceoff specialist, had an outstanding season in the faceoff circle, going 198-for-276 (.717). Brzezinski also led the Thunder with 134 groundballs. For the conference season, Brzezinski was fourth in the MIAA with 7.50 groundballs per game and led the MIAA with a .745 (79-for-106) faceoff win percentage.
Madsen, an attackman, tied for the team lead with 13 goals in conference play which tied for eighth in the MIAA with 2.17 goals per game. Madsen also tied for the league lead with six man-up goals and added five assists. Madsen finished the season with a team leading 34 goals and was second with 19 assists and third with 71 groundballs.
Backer started all 16 games at defense during his first season for the Thunder. Backer was second on the team with 14 caused turnovers on the season and tied for fourth with 49 groundballs. In conference play, Backer finished the year with 14 groundballs and four caused turnovers.
5/2 - Thunder’s Season Comes to a Close in MIAA Tournament
ALBION, Mich. - It was the first postseason game in the history of the Trine lacrosse program, but the Thunder ran into their old foe Albion College on their home turf, where Trine lost earlier in the season, 15-9, was not going to be an easy task. The result was a Thunder loss, as Trine (8-8, 4-2 MIAA) was unable to overcome a large first quarter hole on their way to a 14-4 defeat.
Trine struggled to both ride and clear, going 8-for-18 on clearing attempts while allowing the Britons to get too many easy looks downfield in an 18-for-21 outing. The Thunder won only two major statistical categories, saves (15-to-14) and face-offs (12-for-21). Albion capitalized on four extra-man opportunities to go with the +20 advantage in shots were huge factors in the win.
In the first quarter, Trine spent a great deal of time on its own defensive end. As a result, the Trine defense faced 11 shots in the period, the first of three straight double digit shooting periods for Albion. The Thunder were only down 1-0 until late in the first before three goals were given up in the final 4:38 of the period.
Signs of life for Trine would appear from the offense in the form of senior midfielder Dalton Madsen (Westminster, Colo. /Northglenn). Madsen caught his defender off-guard, driving towards the goal while the Thunder was subbing on their midfielders. The tactic worked beautifully, and it was 4-1 moments into the second. Albion’s answer would again come from Genord, as the Britons would also add their first man-up goal midway through the period, followed by another on a different penalty 90 seconds later. Albion put the finishing touches on a hat trick to close out the first half scoring.
Facing a deep hole and only getting deeper, Trine couldn’t put more than a minor dent into the 8-1 deficit. Albion scored early in the third before freshman George Youpel (Chicago Ridge, Ill./St Rita) put two right handed step down shots home on extra-man opportunities. The Britons scored the last two goals in the third, one in an even situation and another on man-up to lead 11-3 heading into the fourth.
Albion managed to snag another goal on another man-up chance to start the period. Trine would get its last goal from freshman Jack Brown (Middletown, Ohio/Archbishop Alter) less than two minutes later. Brown swung around from behind the net, got a step, and managed to connect on a shot to the top right corner. Scoring would be closed out on goals by Albion that came within 10 seconds of each other, the last with 5:26 to play. The result was a bitter tasting 14-4 loss that ended the Thunder’s season and should provide plenty of motivation for them this offseason.
In goal for the Thunder, sophomore Austin Helm (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) suffered his first loss of the season despite making a season-high 15 saves.
Junior Rob Brzezinski (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) led the Thunder with a game-high six groundballs while going 11-of-20 on faceoffs.
4/29 - O’Keefe Named MIAA Men’s Lacrosse POW
ROYAL OAK, Mich. - The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Trine long stick midfielder Colin O’Keefe its Defensive Player of the Week in men’s lacrosse for matches played through April 27.
O’Keefe, a freshman from Gurnee, Ill. (Warren Township HS), scooped up 11 ground balls and caused five turnovers in leading Trine to a 23-8 win over Hope. O’Keefe is being honored as Player of the Week for the first time this season.
4/27 - Thunder Dominate Hope, Clinch Third Seed
ANGOLA, Ind. - On paper, it looked like the final game of the season between the Trine University men’s lacrosse team and Hope College would be a hard fought battle, but The Thunder used a 9-goal first quarter to rout their MIAA rivals 23-8. With the win, the Thunder secured the number three seed in the first ever MIAA Conference Tournament where they will face No. 2 seed Albion.
The Thunder jumped out early as they scored three quick goals, just 24 seconds apart beginning at 12:40 by senior Dalton Madsen (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn). Sophomore Patrick Walker (Round Lake Park, Ill./Grayslake North) would score the second and junior Mike Senkier (Oradell, N.J./River Dell) added the third, which was just his second of the year.
Trine added six more goals in the quarter including goals by Jack Brown (Middletown, Ohio/Archbishop Alter), freshman Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) and then another by Brown that came just 17 seconds later. Less than a minute after Brown’s second goal freshman Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St Rita) added his first of the game. Walker would add his second goal at 3:27 of the period and Ward finished off the 9-0 quarter with 1:03 left.
Trine continued to roll to start the second as Ward and Walker netted consecutive goals just seven seconds apart.
Hope would end the shutout at 8:07 of the second as they added a pair of goals two minutes apart. Trine closed out the half scoring twice more including a hat-trick goal by Brown and sophomore Adam Martin (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) adding another score with 48 seconds left in the half as Trine led it 13-2.
Freshman Jake Ahearn (Naperville, Ill./Naperville) started the second half with his seventh goal of the season at the 13:44 mark. After a Hope goal, the Thunder scored three straight the end the third quarter. Carlquist, Madsen and freshman George Youpel (Chicago Ridge, Ill./St Rita) gave the Thunder a 17-3 lead heading into the final quarter.
In the final period was all Trine to start as they scored five straight goals to open it. A goal by Martin was followed by Madsen’s hat-trick goal on a man-up chance for the Thunder. Carlquist also netted a hat-trick goal at the 10:42 mark. Less than 50 seconds later it was Youpel scoring and then senior Ryan Chait (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) just seven seconds after that with his sixth of the season. With the game out of reach, the Dutchmen would score five straight goals.
Trine freshman Nic Ruby (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) would close out the game with his fifth goal of the year with just 37 seconds remaining.
In all, 11 different Trine players found the back of the net on the day. Walker led the Thunder with a game-high seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) while Brown, Carlquist, Madsen and Ward all had hat tricks on the afternoon. Madsen and junior Zack Matthews (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood) also added a pair of assists.
Freshman Colin O’Keefe (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) led the Thunder with a game-high 11 groundballs and five caused turnovers. Junior Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) added nine groundballs while going 15-for-26 in faceoffs. Madsen also had eight groundballs on the day.
In net for the Thunder, junior Matt Lamb (Akron, Ohio/Revere) earned the win playing the first half and making three saves. Sophomore Austin Helm (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) came on to play just over 20 minutes and made six saves. Freshman Sam Margulis (St. Louis, Mo./MICDS) played the final nine minutes plus, making two saves.
The two teams came into the game ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation in groundballs as the Thunder held a 57-to-40 advantage on the day. It was also a battle all day in the faceoff circle as Trine was ranked first as a team in win percentage while Hope was ninth with the Thunder holding a 19-to-16 advantage on the afternoon.
The Thunder also out-shot the Dutchmen 45-to-35 on the afternoon. Trine converted 22-of-27 clear attempts while Hope was 14-for-20. Both teams also had similar turnover numbers as Hope committed 27 while Trine made 22.
Trine will head to the MIAA Tournament where they will look for revenge when they travel Albion on May 2 at 7:00 p.m.
4/20 - Thunder Bitten by Bulldogs
ANGOLA, Ind. - It was a tough day for the Trine University men’s lacrosse team as they fell to conference leader Adrian 14-4. The loss drops the Thunder to .500 on the season at 7-7 overall and 3-2 in the MIAA.
It was all Bulldogs in the early goings as they jumped out to 6-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Trine would finally get on the board at 8:14 of the second on a man-up goal by freshman Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St Rita) off an assist from freshman George Youpel (Chicago Ridge, Ill./St Rita).
Adrian would add a man-up goal of their own with 1:16 left in the half as they led it 7-1.
Adrian put the game away in the third as they scored five unanswered goals in the quarter.
The Thunder would score three goals in the fourth. After a Bulldogs goal to start the final frame, senior Dalton Madsen (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn) would net his team-leading 30th goal of the year on a man-up chance. Freshman Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) would net his 17th of the season on an assist from freshman Jack Brown (Middletown, Ohio/Archbishop Alter). Trine’s final goal would come off the stick of freshman Nic Ruby (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) with 3:49 to go in the game.
Junior Matt Lamb (Akron, Ohio/Revere) took the loss in goal for the Thunder making three saves in the first half. Sophomore Austin Helm (Akron, Ohio/Revere) came on in the second half and made six stops.
Junior Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) led all players with nine groundballs while going 13-of-18 in the faceoff circle. Madsen and Ward each also picked up four groundballs on the afternoon.
For the day, the Thunder held a 30-to-27 groundball advantage and won 15-of-22 faceoffs. Adrian out-shot Trine 38-to-26 as both sides had similar numbers on turnovers, 14 for Trine and 12 for Adrian. Both sides were near perfect on clearing as the Thunder converted 15-of-16 while Adrian was successful on 23-of-24. On the afternoon, Trine was 2-for-9 on extra-man opportunities.
Trine will close out the regular season on Senior Day as Hope will visit Angola on April 27 for a 1:00 p.m. game. The winner will secure the third seed the MIAA tournament.
4/16 - First Quarter Lead Not Enough for Thunder
ALBION, Mich. - An early two goal lead was not enough for the Trine University men’s lacrosse team as they dropped their first MIAA game of the season to Albion College 15-9. The loss drops the Thunder to 7-6 on the year and 3-1 in the conference.
The Thunder jumped out to an 2-0 lead as freshman Jake Ahern (Naperville, Ill./Naperville) scored his fifth goal of the season two minutes in. Just 40 seconds later it would be sophomore Patrick Walker (Round Lake Park, Ill./Grayslake North) scoring for Trine on an assist from fellow sophomore Adam Martin (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central).
Albion would answer back with three goals of their own, tying and then taking the lead with 4:42 left in the quarter.
Walker would end the scoring spree for the Britons as he scored on an assist from junior Zach Matthews (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood) with 2:46 left. Just 40 seconds later though, Albion would retake the lead 4-3 at the end of the quarter.
The second quarter was a seesaw battle as the teams traded goals throughout the 15 minutes. In the period, Trine got goals from Ahern, freshman Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St Rita) and Martin as Albion scored with 1:13 left in the half to take a 7-6 lead at the break.
The Britons would tally the first two goals of the second half as they pushed their lead to three. Walker would get the hat-trick at the 8:52 mark on an assist from freshman Nic Ruby (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) but the celebration would be short lived. Albion would score a minute later and then scored a second at 3:49 of the quarter. The Thunder would make things interesting as 44 seconds later Martin would score his second of the game. Walker would score his fourth of the game with just 1:43 left to pull the Thunder within two.
That would be as close as the Thunder would come as they were shutout in the fourth quarter while the Britons scored four unanswered goals.
Junior Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) continued to dominate in the faceoff circle as he went 18-for-23 on the night.
Junior Matt Lamb (Akron, Ohio/Revere) took the loss in goal for the Thunder as he made 11 saves over 60 minutes of play.
For the day, the Thunder were held scoreless on man-up chances, going 0-for-7 while Albion converted on 2-of-6 opportunities. Albion successfully cleared on 21-of-26 chances while Trine converted on 12-of-20 clears.
Trine will head to Adrian on April 20 for a 1:00 p.m. game with the preseason MIAA favorites.
4/13 - Walker’s Seven Point Performance Lead Thunder
By Sports Information Student Assistant Zach Bigger
ANGOLA, Ind. - The Trine University men’s lacrosse team (7-5, 3-0 MIAA) took care of business, allowing just one goal late in the fourth quarter as they built a 6-0 first quarter lead and never looked back, defeating conference rival Calvin 18-1 (1-10, 0-3 MIAA). The Thunder had three different players with hat tricks, led by sophomore Patrick Walker’s (Round Lake Park, Ill./Grayslake North) seven point (4 goals, 3 assist) performance. Calvin finished with just seven shots and was just 7-for-30 (23%) on clearing attempts for the game.
Trine could do no wrong to open the game, as they owned the ball in the first. Calvin went 0-for-9 on clears and as the Thunder tallied 22 shots. The first goal of the day would come from Walker’s feed from the back right corner to a nearby freshman Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St Rita), who easily put one through the pipes. It was an eight minute, five goal run for the Thunder, which featured a pair of goals from sophomore Adam Martin (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) as well as a man-up goal by senior Dalton Madsen (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn). Walker’s second goal closed out the scoring in the first 15 minutes with some help from freshman Jack Brown (Middletown, Ohio/Archbishop Alter).
The second quarter was a disappointing one for both sides, as Trine scored just twice and Calvin finally had possession on offense but couldn’t come up with any results thanks to a stout defensive unit led by junior David Louis (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley). Senior attackman Ryan Chait (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) played a role in both goals, dunking one up-close and personal then feeding freshman Nic Ruby (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) for the second. At halftime, the score stood at 8-0 for the Thunder.
Coming out with renewed focus in the third, Trine tallied five goals. As the opportunities mounted, so did the goals, with four different Trine players scoring. Brown earned two goals, Walker nailed a close range shot while Trine was man-down and the Thunder had a rare senior-to-senior connection from midfielder Sean Robb (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) to Madsen. Calvin doubled its shot total from the first half (2) but continued to make costly turnovers.
As the Thunder began to clear its bench and get everyone into the game, the Knights in turn had their best period in the contest. In the period, Calvin had 9 groundballs, posted 4 shots, but most importantly, one goal. The goal came from a scramble situation which featured a host of players on both sides attempting to pick up a groundball from midfield. The Knights came up with it, pushed the tempo, and got a shot off from about 12 yards out, and landed it home. That would be the last goal of the game, as Brown and Madsen finished up their hat tricks to go along with a goal from freshman Jake Ahearn (Naperville, Ill./Naperville) to round out the 18-1 victory.
Walker and Brown both finished the day with three assists. Ward finished the game going 15-of-16 in faceoffs while picking up a career- and game-high 14 groundballs. Freshman Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) nabbed seven groundballs while Walker has six. Martin, Carlquist and Brown also led the Thunder with two caused turnovers.
Sophomore Austin Helm (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) earned the win for the Thunder in goal despite not getting the start, playing the second and third quarters and making two saves. Junior Matt Lamb (Akron, Ohio/Revere) got the start but played just the first quarter and did not face a shot. Freshman Sam Margulis (St. Louis, Mo./MICDS) played the final 15 minutes and made one save.
Trine out-shot the Knights 59-to-7 on the afternoon and held a 62-to-33 advantage on groundballs. Trine was perfect on their clearing chances through three quarters but finished 15-of-18. The Thunder also held a 34-to-23 advantage on turnovers but Trine caused just two more, 14-to-12, than the Knights.
Trine’s next matchup features two unbeaten teams in the MIAA as the Thunder goes to the road Tuesday to square off against Albion College at 7 p.m. Trine has never lost to Albion, going 3-0 all-time versus the Britons.
4/9 - Thunder Fall in Final Non-Conference Game
WOOSTER, Ohio - The Trine University men’s lacrosse team fell behind early and were unable to recover as they fell to the College of Wooster 17-7. The loss snaps the Thunder’s 5-game winning streak as they fall to 6-5 on the season.
After a slow first 10 minutes that saw Wooster score the lone goal, the Thunder would get on the board with 3:05 left in the first quarter as freshman Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St Rita) scored on an assist from senior Dalton Madsen (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn). The Scots would answer right back scoring just 55 seconds later to take the lead, one they would never relinquish. Just 13 seconds later Wooster would add another goal on a man-up opportunity.
Wooster would pull away in the second quarter as they out-scored Trine 5-1. The Thunder’s lone goal of the period again came off the stick of Ward with 3:25 to play in the half. The Scots added a goal just nine seconds before halftime as they led 8-2.
The third quarter would be a scoring barrage for both sides as they tallied 10 goals between the two sides. Freshman Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) scored on a man-up chance from Madsen. Carlquist would add two more goals in the quarter, including one with just 43 seconds left.
The two teams traded goals in the fourth as Wooster scored first at the 9:53 mark. A minute later it was freshman George Youpel (Chicago Ridge, Ill./St Rita) on a man-up chance scoring his 10th of the season on an assist from Madsen. Youpel would add the final goal of the game at 3:53 on an assist from sophomore Patrick Walker (Round Lake Park, Ill./Grayslake North).
The hat-trick for Carlquist was his second of the season. Madsen earned his third assist hat-trick of the year while picking up four groundballs. Junior Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) led the Thunder with a game-high seven groundballs while the national leader in faceoff wins went 8-for-14 on the day. Ward finished the day going 5-for-11 in the faceoff circle while grabbing five groundballs.
In goal for the Thunder, junior Matt Lamb (Akron, Ohio/Revere) took the loss while making six saves in the first three quarters. Sophomore Austin Helm (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) came on for the final quarter and made six saves.
Trine held close statistically with the Scots in nearly every category except the one on the scoreboard. Wooster held a 40-to-31 advantage on groundballs while both teams made 16 turnovers on the night. Both teams were near perfect on clearing attempts as the Thunder were 10-for-12 while Wooster converted 18-of-19. Trine held a 13-to-12 advantage on faceoffs while the Thunder converted on 2-of-6 on man-up chance and the Scots were 2-for-4.
Trine will return home and resume conference action when they take on Calvin for a 1:00 p.m. game on April 13.
4/6 - Thunder Knock the Kilts off the Scots
By Sports Information Student Assistant Zach Bigger
ANGOLA, Ind. - After struggling offensively with only a 3-0 halftime lead, the Trine University men’s lacrosse team (6-4, 2-0 MIAA) bounced back with a 9-1 second half to win a 12-1 decision versus Alma College (3-6, 0-2 MIAA). Trine was outstanding in every statistical category, particularly in clears (21-for-21), shots (55 to 10), and ground balls (62 to 20). While the Scots hung around for the first 30 minutes, the Thunder never hit the panic button, and the conference win got them one step closer towards their ultimate goal: the MIAA championship.
Opening the game, the Thunder controlled the ball off the opening faceoff and kept the ball on their end for more than 13 minutes in the period. Alma failed on three clearing attempts in the first seven minutes thanks to an excellent riding effort. Trine picked up its first and only goal in the quarter with a high shot to the right side from sophomore Adam Martin (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central).
In the second, the faceoff to start the quarter was won and subsequently turned over as the Thunder faceoff unit was trying to escape the fracas. Trine played defense for several minutes before junior defenseman David Louis (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley) forced a turnover on Alma attackman Kyle Schintzer and blew right past several Scots chasing him on the way to a perfect clearing day for Trine.
After a few shots and a save on offense, the Thunder capitalized on one the 10 turnovers they forced in the second quarter. Freshman defenseman Colin O’Keefe’s (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) ground ball pickup helped setup a quick connection from a pair of freshmen in Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) to Patrick Walker (Round Lake Park, Ill./Grayslake North). Carlquist would perform a solo act later in the period, shaking off a Scot defenseman and putting a lefty shot between the pipes late in the second. Trine had the ball for the final 3:30 of the quarter but walked away with an unsatisfying 3-0 lead.
With the thought of a potential upset in the air, the Thunder began to turn doubters into believers with a 4-1 scoring run in the third. Trine got the first goal of the quarter from freshman Jack Brown (Middletown, Ohio/Archbishop Alter), who took advantage of the Alma defense and finished off a shot from point blank range. Faceoff specialist, junior Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) continued his outstanding day (15 for 17) with a top-shelf right handed goal. Carlquist and Brown would pick up the last two goals of the period, and Trine led 7-1 heading into the final 15 minutes.
Alma attempted just one shot inside Trine’s offensive zone the entire fourth quarter as the Thunder finally forced the Scots into frustration. Trine would score five goals in the final stanza, including two on man-up opportunities, both by senior Dalton Madsen (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn). Walker picked up three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in the fourth, and junior Zach Mathews (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood) rounded off the 12-1 showing for the Thunder with a goal with less than a minute remaining.
The Thunder held Alma to just 15 of 32 in clearing opportunities and forced 34 turnovers, causing 14.
Trine faces its last non-conference game of the season when it hits the road on April 9 to face off against the College of Wooster under the lights beginning at 7:00 p.m. Riding a five game hot streak, Wooster presents a big test of how far the Thunder has come since some early season struggles.
4/2 - Thunder Win MIAA Conference Opener
OLIVET, Mich. - In the first MIAA conference game ever, the Trine University men’s lacrosse team never trailed as they defeated Olivet 11-6. The win puts the Thunder over .500 for the first time this season with their record now at 5-4.
It didn’t take long for the Thunder to get on the scoreboard as senior Dalton Madsen (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn) notched his 21st goal of the season just 1:26 into the contest. Olivet would score just over a minute later to tie the game three minutes in.
Sophomore Adam Martin (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) would score at the 9:02 mark to give the Thunder a lead they would never relinquish. Madsen scored his second goal of the quarter on a man-up opportunity on an assist from freshman George Youpel (Chicago Ridge, Ill./St Rita). Senior Sean Robb (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) would give the Thunder a 4-1 lead as he notched his first goal of the season with just 44 seconds left off an assist from Madsen.
The second quarter saw both defenses stand tall as neither team could find the back of the net until Olivet’s Matt Arb scored with 7:30 left in the half. Just 1:15 later, it would be Madsen netting his fourth straight game with a hat-trick. Olivet would answer back with another goal with 1:52 left, but once again the Thunder would score in the final seconds as freshman Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) found the back of the net on an assist from Madsen with just five seconds remaining.
Defense again proved to be the focus in the third quarter. Trine tallied their lone goal of the period as Youpel score on a man-up opportunity with 4:43 left. Olivet answered quickly as they scored 1:08 later and then notched another with 1:28 left in the quarter to pull within two.
Olivet would close the gap to just one to open the final quarter as they scored just 56 seconds into the period. That would be as close as it would get as Trine got two quick goals from freshman Jake Ahearn (Naperville, Ill./Naperville) and Madsen just 42 seconds apart. Madsen’s goal at the 9:30 mark was assisted by freshman Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St Rita).
Trine would score their third man-up goal of the game off the stick of freshman Jack Brown (Middletown, Ohio/Archbishop Alter) with 5:37 left in the game. The Thunder would score quickly again as 1:34 later, it was Carlquist with his second of the game as the Thunder put the game away.
In all, six different Trine players scored on the afternoon led by Madsen who had a game-high four goals and two assists. Carlquist was the only other Trine player to score multiple goals as he also grabbed seven groundballs. Junior Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) had an outstanding day in the faceoff circle going 14-of-17 while also nabbing a team-high eight groundballs. Ward was also solid going 4-for-4 in faceoffs with five groundballs.
Junior goalie Matt Lamb (Akron, Ohio/Revere) led the Thunder defense with a game-high two caused turnovers while making five saves on the day.
Despite the close score, the Thunder out-shot Olivet 52-26 on the afternoon as Trine held the Comets to single-digit shots in each quarter. Trine held a 59-34 groundball advantage on the day while they also won 18-of-21 faceoff chances. The Thunder were 16-of-20 on clearing opportunities for the game while holding the Comets to 16-of-23 chances. For the day, Trine was able to convert on 3-of-7 man-up chances while Olivet was held scoreless on seven opportunities.
Trine will host their first MIAA conference game on April 6 as they take on Alma at 1:00 p.m.
4/1 - Madsen Named MIAA Men’s Lacrosse POW
ROYAL OAK, Mich. - The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Trine attackman Dalton Madsen its Players of the Week in men’s lacrosse for matches played through March 30.
Madsen, a senior from Westminster, Colo. (Northglenn HS), scored eight goals and added five assists for 13 points in leading the Thunder to two nonconference victories. He had four goals and an assist in a 15-5 win over Baldwin Wallace, Ohio, then added four goals and four assists in a 20-6 victory over Wilmington, Ohio. Madsen, who is being honored as Player of the Week for the first time this season, also picked up 11 groundballs and caused two turnovers for the week.
3/30 - Thunder Route Quakers on the Road
By Sports Information Student Assistant Zach Bigger
WILMINGTON, Ohio - The Trine University men’s lacrosse squad scored early and scored often in a 20-6 drumming of Wilmington College. It was the third straight win for the Thunder (4-4) and featured five different players scoring at least four points, led by senior Dalton Madsen’s (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn) eight (4 goals, 4 assists).
Madsen would score in the opening possession of the game, dodging down the right wing, connecting on a left handed midrange shot. From there, the Thunder controlled the ball, worked it around, and keeping it primarily on the offensive end until freshman Jack Brown (Middletown, Ohio/Archbishop Alter) picked up his first goal midway through the quarter. The defensive unit, led by freshman Jordan Backer (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) and junior David Louis (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley) played a big part in the Quakers eight first quarter turnovers. Wilmington would have their two goals in the period come after loose ball situations led to fast break scenarios for the Quakers. Otherwise, it was all Thunder, putting the ball between the pipes twice on man-up chances to lead 6-2 after one.
The second quarter was no different on offense for Trine, as Madsen duplicated his quick first quarter scoring outburst with another just 37 seconds in. The Thunder quickly picked up where they left off on offense, as senior Ryan Chait (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) finished off a hard cut to the middle of the field by making a great catch in traffic and laying one between the pipes on the way to a seven-goal Trine quarter. The Thunder defense held tight, crushing Wilmington 19-to-2 in the ground ball battle and allowing them to take just five shots in the second.
Opening the third quarter with a 13-3 lead, Trine was outscored 3-2 in the period, giving up a goal on man-down as well as two opportunities from Quaker midfielder Jalen Jackson. Sophomore attacker Pat Walker (Round Lake Park, Ill./Grayslake North) and Madsen both scored unassisted goals.
The fourth quarter was all Trine, finishing strong with five goals while shutting out Wilmington in the final 15 minutes. Patrick Walker had a hat-trick in the final period, scoring three times in a 10 minute span. Goals from junior Zach Matthews (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood) and freshman Jake Ahearn (Naperville, Ill./Naperville) would round out a 20 goal offensive performance from the Thunder, who had their highest scoring output of the season.
Madsen, Brown and Walker all tallied four goals on the afternoon while freshman Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) added two goals and two assists. Freshman Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St Rita) led the Thunder with a game-high 10 groundballs while also going 14-for-16 in faceoffs. Madsen and Backer each also picked up seven groundballs on the afternoon. Backer and fellow freshman Alex DePoy (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) led the Thunder with three caused turnovers.
In goal, sophomore Austin Helm (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) earned his first decision of the season making three saves. Freshman Sam Margulis (St. Louis, Mo./MICDS) came on for the final 21 minutes of play and made four saves between the pipes.
As a team, the Thunder finished just two groundballs shy of tying a school record as they finished with 67 for the day compared to just 27 for Wilmington. The Thunder forced 15 turnovers on the day while going a combined 24-for-30 in the faceoff circle. Trine out-shot the Quakers 62-21 and were 2-for-8 in man-up chances. The Thunder were nearly perfect in clearing opportunities as they went 28-for-29 on chances while holding Wilmington to just 19-of-34.
Trine will play in their first-ever MIAA conference game when they travel to Olivet on April 2 for a 4:00 p.m. game.
3/27 - Thunder Exterminate Yellow Jackets
By Sports Information Student Assistant Zach Bigger
ANGOLA, Ind. - A nine goal first quarter propelled the Trine University men’s lacrosse team (3-4) to a 15-5 win over Baldwin-Wallace (3-2). The Thunder jumped on their opportunities early and quickly left no doubt who the best team on the field was. They won nearly every statistical category, including shots (50-to-21), ground balls (49-to-28), and man-up goals (5-to-0).
It was Trine’s third win in the past four games and was keyed by sophomore attackman Patrick Walker (Round Lake Park, Ill./Grayslake North), senior midfielder Dalton Madsen (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn) and freshman midfielder Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St Rita).
The Thunder controlled the ball early and often, and the aggressive zone Baldwin-Wallace employed was not able to effectively pressure the offense. The result led to a flurry of goals, one right after the next, all beginning with Walker catching a feed from junior Zach Matthews (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood) and hitting a long shot from the top right side of the field to the opposite back pipe. In the ensuing six minutes, the Thunder scored at least once every minute. Highlighting the scoring run was freshman Jake Ahearn’s (Naperville, Ill./Naperville) one-handed snag from a cross-crease feed from fellow freshman Jack Brown (Middletown, Ohio/Archbishop Alter) that was finished off by a short range rip. Trine would put two more goals behind the net late in the period, putting together their most efficient quarter all season long.
Leading 9-1 going into the second quarter, the game slowed down as Baldwin-Wallace began to back off from their aggressive defense. Trine would only get three goals in the period. The Yellow Jackets weren’t taking advantage of the situation, as they continually shot themselves in the foot with bad clear attempts and a mountain of penalties. Ward hit the opening goal of the period, Madsen had his fourth of the game midway through the quarter, and after freshman Paul Carlquist’s (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) only goal of the evening; the score was 12-1 at the half.
A new quarter for Baldwin-Wallace, and it was the same story once more, continuing to rack up penalties, on their way to an eye-opening 10 for the game. Trine owned the ball on their side of the field, yet only scored on two man-up opportunities in the period, one by Ward and the other by Brown.
In the fourth quarter, the Thunder took their foot off the gas as they attempted just five shots. As a result, it was a four goal quarter for Baldwin-Wallace. Trine’s lone goal in the period could come from freshman George Youpel (Chicago Ridge, Ill./St Rita) on an assist from Walker on a man-up opportunity.
All three Trine goalies saw action in the game led by sophomore Matt Lamb (Akron, Ohio/Revere) who earned the win after playing the entire first half and making five saves. Fellow sophomore Austin Helm (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) came on for just over 20 minutes and making three saves. Freshman Sam Margulis (St. Louis, Mo./MICDS) played the final 10 minutes but did not record a save.
Walker led the Thunder with a game-high seven groundballs while Ward picked up six. Junior David Louis (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley) led the Thunder defense with three caused turnovers. In the faceoff circle, junior Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central), the Division III national leader in win percentage, went 6-of-10 for the game.
The Thunder travel to take on Wilmington College on March 30 2:00 p.m. as they look for their third straight victory.
3/23 - Madsen Scores 5 Goals as Thunder Handle Raiders
ANGOLA, Ind. - In their home-opener, the Trine University men’s lacrosse team used a 7-goal second quarter to carry them to a 13-6 victory over Mount Union. The win improves the Thunder the 2-4 on the season.
The two sides traded goals in the first quarter as the Purple Raiders scored first. Trine would get goals from senior Dalton Madsen (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn) and freshman Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St Rita) as they trailed 3-2 after one period.
In the second, the Thunder scored just 22 seconds in on a goal from Madsen. After a Mount Union goal put them back up 4-3, Trine scored six unanswered goals. Madsen tallied a hat-trick as he scored the first, fourth and seventh goals of the period. Freshman Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) also added two goals in the frame while junior Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) also tallied one.
The Thunder defense would hold the Purple Raiders to just one goal in the third period, as Trine would again close out the quarter scoring three unanswered goal. Sophomore Patrick Walker (Round Lake Park, Ill./Grayslake North) scored first for Trine with 3:53 left on a man-down situation on an assist from Madsen. With 1:46 left, Carlquist would also net a hat-trick and senior Ryan Chait (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) would close out the scoring with nine seconds left on an assist from fellow Sean Robb (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh).
In the final quarter, neither offense could get much going as each tallied a goal. For the Thunder once again it was Madsen who found the back of the net with just 1:41 to play in the game with his second man-up goal of the game on an assist from freshman George Youpel (Chicago Ridge, Ill./St Rita).
Madsen led all players with a career-high five goals on the day while adding an assist and six groundballs. Carlquist grabbed four groundballs to go along with his three goals and forcing two turnovers. Chait, Walker and sophomore Adam Martin (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) all scored a goal and tallied an assist for the game.
Brzezinski, the national DIII leader in faceoff win percentage, was again dominate in the circle going 17-of-19 while picking up a game-high 12 groundballs. Freshman Jordan Backer (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) led the Thunder defense with eight groundballs and three caused turnovers.
In goal for the Thunder junior Matt Lamb (Akron, Ohio/Revere) earned the victory for the Thunder with a season-high 11 saves on the day and grabbing four groundballs.
Trine dominated the Purple Raiders in almost every facet of the game. For the day, the Thunder out-shot Mount Union 60-34, including holding them to just three shots in the second quarter. Trine also held a 60-35 groundball advantage over the Purple Raiders. Mount Union committed 29 turnovers of which 15 were forced by the Thunder while Trine committed 26 turnovers with the Purple Raiders causing 16 of them.
The Thunder were dominating in the faceoff circle as they won 20-of-23 opportunities. In clearing opportunities, Trine was successful on 17-of-22 chances while the Purple Raiders cleared 20-of-30 opportunities. In all, Trine was 2-of-7 on extra-man opportunities while the Thunder defense held Mount Union to 0-of-5.
Trine will return to action on March 27 when they host Baldwin-Wallace for a 7:00 p.m. game.
3/20 - Thunder Fall to Former Rival
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - In their return trip to Arlotta Stadium on the campus of the University of Notre Dame, the Trine University men’s lacrosse team did not have the luck of the Irish on their side as they fell to former MLC foe Aurora 17-3. The loss drops the Thunder to 1-4 on the season.
After a scoreless first 10 minutes, Aurora would jump out to a 2-0 lead after the first quarter. In the second, the Spartans would net a man-up goal just 10 seconds into the period as they went on to score five unanswered in the quarter.
Despite the 7-0 Aurora lead at halftime, Trine was out-shot just 17-11 in the opening half.
The Spartans would score twice more to open the third before the Thunder would finally find the back of the net. Senior Dalton Madsen (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn) scored his seventh goal of the year at 10:41 of the quarter. A minute later, Aurora would score again as they led it 10-1.
Trine did their best to make a comeback as they scored twice at the end of the third. Freshman George Youpel (Chicago Ridge, Ill./St Rita) scored his fifth of the season on a man-up opportunity. Sophomore Patrick Walker (Round Lake Park, Ill./Grayslake North) would net his second goal of the year with 2:38 left in the period on an assist from freshman Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South).
Trailing 10-3 going into the final period, the Thunder offense were unable to continue the momentum from the third as the Spartans would score seven unanswered goals in the final period of play.
For the game, Aurora out-shot the Thunder just 38-31, however 29 of their shots came on-goal compared to just 14 for Trine. The Spartans held a 52-42 groundball advantage for the afternoon. Both sides struggled with turnovers as Trine committed 30 and Aurora made 24.
In the faceoff circle, Trine held a 13-9 advantage. The Thunder also had a solid day clearing the ball as they were successful on 15-of-19 attempts while the Spartans converted on 23-of-32 chances.
Junior Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) led the Thunder with eight groundballs and going 9-of-17 in the faceoff circle. Freshman Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St Rita) added six groundballs on the day while going 4-of-5 on faceoffs. Junior David Louis (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley) led the Thunder defense with five groundballs and four caused turnovers.
In goal for Trine, sophomore Matt Lamb (Akron, Ohio/Revere) took the loss after playing most of the first three quarters and making eight saves. Fellow sophomore Austin Helm (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) played the final 19:15 between the pipes making four saves, all in the final quarter.
Trine will return to the field for their home-opener on March 23 when they host Mount Union at 2:00 p.m.
3/16 - Thunder Hold Off Second Half Comeback Attempt
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Trine University men’s lacrosse team held off a late rally by the up-start Benedictine (IL) 14-9 in a game played at the University of Notre Dame’s Arlotta Stadium. The win marks the first for the Thunder on the season and are now 1-3 on the year.
Trine jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after sophomore Patrick Walker (Round Lake Park, Ill./Grayslake North) and senior Ryan Chait (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) scored just 20 seconds apart. Benedictine would answer back with two goals of their own, including one on a man-up chance to tie the game. Just 12 seconds later, Trine junior Mike Senkier (Oradell, N.J./River Dell) scored his first goal of the season to give the Thunder a 3-2 lead after the opening quarter.
The second quarter was all Trine as they out-scored the Eagles 5-1 in the period. The Thunder netted four of their goals over the course of 1:29. Senior Dalton Madsen (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn) started the scoring for Trine at the 12:03 mark. Freshman Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St Rita) scored just 11 seconds later and Madsen scored again 1:02 after that. Again just 16 seconds later, junior Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) scored to put Trine up 7-2. Freshman Jack Brown (Middletown, Ohio/Archbishop Alter) finished of the Thunder scoring in the second with his first of the season at the 2:47 mark.
Benedictine scored their lone goal of the period with just five second remaining on the clock.
Leading 8-3 at halftime, the Eagles slowly got back into it as they tallied five goals in the final five minutes of the third quarter, including two in the final 37 seconds.
Leading by just one, 8-7, heading into the fourth quarter, the Thunder slammed on the throttle. Trine netted their first man-up goal of the game at 11:17 by Ward. After Benedictine answered a minute later, Trine responded with four straight goals to put the game out of reach. Madsen netted a hat-trick with on a goal with 6:57 left in the game and freshman George Youpel (Chicago Ridge, Ill./St Rita) added a man-up score.
Trine dominated most of the day despite the close score. The Thunder out-shot Benedictine 64-to-22. Defensively, the Thunder forced 29 Eagles turnovers compared to 21 for Trine. The Thunder dominated the groundballs, scooping up 59 compared to just 30 for Benedictine. Trine doubled up the Eagles on faceoffs, as the Thunder won 17-of-26 in the circle. Both teams struggled clearing as Trine converted 10-of-18 while Benedictine was 13-of-20.
In man-up chances, Trine went 2-for-4 while Benedictine converted just 1-of-7
Madsen led all players with three goals while adding an assist while also grabbing five groundballs and forcing four turnovers. Brown and Ward each added a pair of goals on the day. Ward also led all players with eight groundballs while also going 9-of-14 in faceoffs.
Walker and Chait led all players with a pair of assists apiece. Brzezinski, who entered the week and the Division III national leader in faceoff wins percent and groundball average, finished the day 8-of-12 in the faceoff circle while picking up six groundballs. Junior David Louis (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley) led all players with four caused turnovers.
In goal, the Thunder split time with sophomores Matt Lamb (Akron, Ohio/Revere) and Austin Helm (Westfield, Ind./Westfield). Lamb made two saves to earn the win while Helm came on for the second half and made four saves.
Trine will return to Notre Dame and Arlotta Stadium to face Aurora University on March 20 for an 11:45 a.m. game which precedes the Notre Dame-Ohio State men’s lacrosse game.
3/8 - Thunder Pounced On By Tigers
By Sports Information Student Assistant Zach Bigger
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Trine University men’s lacrosse team (0-3) could not capitalize on the opportunities given to them by Colorado College, and as a result were not able to keep up with the Tigers (3-1) falling 23-3 in their final game of their Spring trip. Colorado exploited Trine’s penalties as they converted on four extra-man opportunities while the Thunder were 0-10 in man-up chances.
After trading possessions with Colorado College in the opening minutes, Trine would give up its first goal after being unable to possess the ball and move it downfield four minutes into the game. The mistake was compounded when, after winning the ensuing faceoff, the ball was subsequently turned over and the Tigers took advantage of the extra chance awarded to them.
Late in the first, Colorado College took advantage of a failed clear and jammed the ball right down the middle of the Thunder defense. Trine couldn’t stop the odd-man transition, and another shot went through the pipes. After a slashing penalty, the Tigers converting on the man-up opportunity and the scoreboard read 5-0 to end the first quarter.
The beginning of a new quarter wouldn’t bring a new result for Trine as Colorado outscored the Thunder 5-0 in the period. Trine had multiple man-up opportunities in the period, but were unable to convert.
In the second half, a four-goal run over the opening 4 minutes sealed the outcome of the game for the Tigers. Down 15-0, Trine replaced its goalie and tried to put its best foot forward while giving some of the team’s reserves playing time.
Trine got on the board midway through the fourth on midfielder Dalton Madsen’s (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn) shot from the top of the box. Midfielder Adam Martin (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) would get into the mix as well, as he caught, bobbled, and made a miraculous play on a tough catch and scored from close range. The Thunder would finish their scoring for the game on a spectacular shot from Madsen as he launched one just outside the right hash mark that hit nothing but the top left hand corner of the net.
Sophomore Matt Lamb (Akron, Ohio/Revere) recorded seven saves in just over 33 minutes between the pipes. Freshman Sam Margulis (St. Louis, Mo./MICDS) and sophomore Austin Helm (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) each recorded a save for the Thunder.
Junior Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) went 16-for-23 in the faceoff circle and picked up a game-high 16 groundballs.
Trine returns home from their spring break trip and will face Benedictine (IL) on March 16. The game at Arlotta Stadium on the campus on the University of Notre Dame at 1:00 p.m.
3/7 - Thunder Fall to DII Squad
By Sports Information Student Assistant Zach Bigger
ALAMOSA, Colo. - Playing on the highest elevated field in the NCAA at over 7,500 feet, the Trine University men’s lacrosse team (0-2) scrapped, fought, and hustled for all 60 minutes to try to hang with Division II Adams State (1-1). Unfortunately, their efforts produced a 17-5 loss on the scoreboard.
Adams State took 56 shots and won every major statistical category except saves and faceoffs, which midfielders Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St Rita) and Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) combined to go 17-for-25 in the contest.
After giving up a goal just over a minute into the contest, the Thunder struck back with a Brzezinski bounce shot to tie the game at one. Several minutes later, the game’s first big shift occurred when defenseman Colin O’Keefe (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) picked up a ground ball and attempted to overpower two Grizzly defenders. Unable to locate a fellow teammate he lowered his head, and the yellow flag flew for spearing.
On the man-up opportunity, Adams State drilled an outside shot to make it 2-1. Trine was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty after the goal as the Grizzlies would again convert on the extra-man chance as Adams State tallied five goals in just five minutes.
Trine, wanting to slow down the game and make the Grizzlies work for their shots, abandoned their man-to-man defense and adopted a zone that proved to be fairly effective. Trine would give up just three goals in the 24 minutes before halftime. The Thunder offense had its hands full on the other end with the Grizzlies ultra-aggressive defensive style. Turnovers began to mount as Trine was unable to get the ball to the backside of the defense before the defenders were flashing in their face.
With the game out of reach at 14-1 late in the third, Trine got its second goal after two fantastic saves by the Adams State goalie led to a scrum in front of the crease. Thunder midfielder Nic Ruby (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) came up with the ball, and his quick shot from point blank range proved that the third time was the charm.
Trine’s best period came as both sides began to put in multiple substitutes as the Thunder three goals in the 4th quarter. O’Keefe redeemed himself by weaving down the field, through the Grizzly defense, and firing a low strike from about 10 yards out for the goal, his first of the season. Attackman George Youpel (Chicago Ridge, Ill./St Rita) and Ruby’s second goal got an assist from senior midfielders Dalton Madsen (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn) and Sean Robb (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) respectively. Ruby’s goal came with just 37 seconds left to close out the scoring for the night.
Sophomore Matt Lamb (Akron, Ohio/Revere) started in goal for the Thunder, playing the first three quarters and making eight saves in the loss. Freshman Sam Margulis (St. Louis, Mo./MICDS) and sophomore Austin Helm (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) also saw time between the pipes for the Thunder with Helm making two stops.
The Thunder looks for their first win on the young season against Colorado College on March 8 at 8 p.m. (EST). The game will be the last for Trine before returning home from its spring break road trip.
3/2 - Thunder Fall in Season-Opening Thriller
By Sports Information Student Assistant Zach Bigger
CLAYTON, Mo. - In their season-opener, The Trine University men’s lacrosse team fell in the fell in the finals second to Fontbonne 11-10.
After the Thunder surrendered an untimely goal with just 32 seconds left, Trine won the ensuing faceoff and faced a do-or-die scenario to force overtime with nine seconds in regulation. After Trine’s initial shot hit off the post, the ball landed in the vicinity for freshman midfielder Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St Rita), who drained the shot off the rebound just before what the Thunder thought was the buzzer and the sideline roared in approval. However, the officials disallowed the goal and Fontbonne hung on.
The Thunder started the game off with a bang, as midfield junior Rob Brzezinski (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) roared down the field and scored on the first possession of the season. Brzezinski had his best day in a Thunder uniform, scoring once in every quarter to finish with four goals on eight shots and going 21-for-24 (.875) on faceoffs.
After struggling against the unexpected zone defense that was thrown against them, Trine was down 3-1 early in the second quarter. Trine received its second goal of the contest from attackman freshman Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South), who pulled a behind the back shot out of his arsenal. Brzezinski scored again shortly after winning another faceoff, bouncing a shot into the net to tie the score at 3-3. Fontbonne scored twice more before halftime and freshman attackman George Youpel’s (Chicago Ridge, Ill./St Rita) man-up goal from the top right of the field closed the scoring at 5-4 at the break.
Brzezinski won the first faceoff of the half and eventually found Carlquist who buried it for this second goal. Just seconds into the second half again, the game was tied once more at five. Youpel would score another goal from the same spot on the man-up once, as Ward scored one as well as Trine led 7-6 heading into the fourth quarter.
Trine continued its run with Carlquist’s third goal of the contest as the Thunder had the momentum and a two-goal lead with more than 14 minutes to play. Fontbonne caught fire in the fourth, as the Griffins had a 5-2 scoring streak to close the game.
Trine will continue their spring break trip with a game in Colorado Springs against Division II Adams State on March 6 beginning at 5:00 p.m. (EST).
2/7 - Thunder Picked Third in MIAA Preseason Poll
ROYAL OAK, Mich. - In the inaugural Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) preseason men’s lacrosse poll, the Trine University squad was chosen to finish third. This year marks the first season the MIAA is sponsoring men's lacrosse as a conference sport.
Adrian was chosen as the preseason favorite, garnering six of a possible seven first-place votes in the preseason poll of MIAA coaches. Albion was picked to finish second, while Trine, which received the other first-place vote, was selected third. Coaches could not vote for their own teams. All three teams are familiar with one another after spending the previous three seasons as members of the Midwest Lacrosse Conference, where Adrian won the conference title each season.
The 2013 Trine University men’s lacrosse team looks to secure a spot in the inaugural MIAA tournament after posting a 7-7 record a season ago. Under fourth year head coach Vinnie Lang, the Thunder program has posted a combined 24-17 record in three seasons.
Trine will look to senior midfielder Dalton Madsen to lead the offensive attack after leading the team with 52 points last season. Head coach Vinnie Lang will rely on midfielders Adam Martin and Sean Robb, as well as attackmen Patrick Walker and Ryan Chait to balance the scoring load. Midfielder Rob Brzezinski, who won 52 percent of his faceoffs last season, will play a key role for the faceoff unit along with freshman Chris Ward.
After returning everyone on the defensive side of the ball last year, the Thunder are looking to reload in 2013. Returning starters include long stick midfielder Michael Senkier and defenseman David Louis. The unit will feature several new players in the rotation, including senior defenseman Zachary Bigger. Junior goalie Matt Lamb looks to move into the starting rotation after the graduation of Alex Gregg.
The Thunder will open their season at home on February 27 when they host Oberlin. The Thunder will travel to Colorado for spring break to face two Division II opponents. The team will also play two games during the season at the University of Notre Dame, including a game prior to the Irish taking on Ohio State on March 20. In their first-ever MIAA conference game, Trine will travel to Olivet on April 2.
Poll Results (first-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Adrian (6) 6 pts. 2. Albion 13. 3. Trine (1) 16. 4. Hope 19. 5. Alma 28. 6. Calvin 30. 7. Olivet 35.
