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.