ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men's lacrosse team came up just short in a heartbreaking start to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) portion of their season. A late goal handed the team an 8-7 loss to visiting Calvin University.
The Knights scored the first two goals of the game, taking a 2-0 lead into the first quarter break. The Thunder got on the board in the third minute of the second quarter, with Landen Kruse scoring on a long range shot from the home side of the field.
After the visitors converted on a man-up chance to build a 3-1 lead, Trine responded with the final two goals of the half securing the 3-3 tie for halftime. Both goals came from Riley Fischer. The first came when the junior collected the groundball after a saved shot by Rocco Curatola. The second came in the final minutes of the half, with Vin Pantano setting up the goal with a spectacular catch near midfield and then a pass to just outside the crease.
The two teams took turn scoring two goals each in the third period, with Calvin always going first and holding Trine away from a lead. Chris Molnar scored the first with the aid of a pass from Curatola. JJ Boos scored the second, after Fischer ran through the point and made a quick pass to the visitors side of the field.
Pantano was the one to pass from the point of the offense to set up the first goal of the fourth quarter. Molnar fired the long shot along the ground and into the far side of the net for the 6-5 lead with less than a minute off the clock in the final stanza.
The next two goals went to the opposition, but Curatola scored with just over four minutes remaining to tie the game again. Pantano recorded his team-high third assist on the goal.
In the penultimate minute of the game, a wide shot by Calvin was kept in bounds when it bounced off of one of the officials. It was a costly bad bounce with the Knights retaining possession and scoring on their ensuing chance. After winning the final faceoff of the game, Calvin was able to runout the clock for the victory.
Pantano and Fischer tied for the team lead with points to lead the team offensively.
Defensively three players stood out despite ultimately falling in the game. Luke Arnold made eight saves in goal despite recording the loss, he also shared a lead on the team with four groundballs. Mason Levin and Mason Kaufman both lead the team with two caused turnovers, while playing lockdown defense in their positions.
Nick Fariello led the team by going 9-for-17 in faceoffs. He also finished the game with four groundballs.
Trine falls to 10-2 overall and 0-1 in MIAA play. They will look to bounce back when they travel to face Adrian College on Saturday, April 4. That game is scheduled to be played at 5 p.m.
