ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Siena Heights men's lacrosse team outscored Madonna 5-2 in the fourth quarter to earn a 14-11 victory over the #1 team in the country on Saturday night. Nate Ford tallied the game-winner with 4:19 remaining in regulation in a wet and snowy game that went back and forth throughout the entirety of regulation.
THE BASICS
Final Score: Siena Heights 14, Madonna 11
Location: Adrian, Michigan (O'Laughlin Stadium)
Records: Siena Heights (3-4, 1-2 WHAC), Madonna (8-1, 1-1 WHAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Madonna scored first to take the early 1-0 lead in the opening 1:30 of the game. Jake Gallaher set up Alex Gilbert for the game-tying score at the 11:04 mark. Nolan Lyons scored off a dish from Danny Kreitzer to give Siena the 2-1 lead going into the second quarter.
The Crusaders knotted things up for a second time with a goal in the opening two minutes of the second. Kreitzer added a goal of his own and Ryan Mamo followed shortly after with a goal to allow the Saints to jump to a 4-2 lead with just over 10 minutes left before the half. Madonna would rattle off back-to-back goals to tie things a third time, but Gilbert and Gallaher each netted shots to give Siena the 6-4 lead at halftime.
The Crusaders came out hot in the third quarter with two goals in the first two minutes to tie things again. Kreitzer responded with his second goal to retake the lead for SHU, 7-6. Following another game-tying goal by Madonna, Mamo scored twice to give the Saints a 9-7 lead. The game would be tied at nine after two Crusader goals ended the third period.
Madonna jumped back on top with a goal to start the final quarter. Gallaher scored to even things up before dishing an assist to Kreitzer to give SHU the 11-10 lead with 7:00 left. The Crusaders tied things for the final time with a goal at the 6:05 mark. Ford netted the game-winner at 4:19. Gallaher and Nolan Lyons added the insurance goals and the Saints held on to win.
TOP SAINTS
• Gallaher finished with three goals and three assists on six shots. He also hauled in a team-high eight ground balls.
• Mamo also tallied three goals while dishing an assist.
• Kreitzer scored three times and had an assist. He scooped five ground balls and caused two turnovers.
• Vinnie Jean (W, 2-3) made 10 saves between the pipes for the Saints to earn his second win of the year.
THE OPPOSITION
• Harry Dyson scored three times to lead the Crusaders.
• Ian Rush registered two goals.
• Zachary Beam had a game-high 13 ground balls.
UP NEXT
The Saint hit the road on Wednesday, April 3 for a conference meeting with Concordia (Mich.). The game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start.
