Contact: Emily Zadny, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302 

Box Score

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (March 10, 2018) – Trailing by four goals in the thick of the contest, the North Central College men's lacrosse team's strong defensive unit and offensive surge could not make up for lost time in the final moments of Saturday's game against Milwaukee School of Engineering (4-0) as the Raiders secured a 9-8 victory to remain undefeated.

North Central had numerous scoring opportunities at the start of the game, but MSOE goalkeeper Pat Collins was there for each attempt, recording six saves off of shots from Noah Parrill, Jared Weaver, Tommy Huizinga, and Gavin Foote. The Raiders took over possession with 3:41 remaining, but a save from Dylan Cost set up the Cardinals' attack for a final opportunity for the first period. Huizinga found his opening and the back of the net with at 2:45 to post the only point in the opening period and kick start the Cardinals' momentum.

The Raiders responded quickly, scoring two goals in the first five minutes of the second period to take the lead. North Central tried to make something happen on offense, taking five shots in five minutes, but MSOE capitalized on the successful clear off of a shot from Huizinga to post a fourth goal at 5:03 to take a 3-1 lead. Not deterred, Brandon Pearl was able to get the ball back to the Cardinals off the faceoff and help set up Foote for his first goal of the game to bring North Central within one. MSOE answered back with a goal just over a minute later but it was Parrill who connected with Pardo for the final score of the half, cutting the Cardinals' deficit to two.

MSOE came out of the locker room fired up to defend its home turf, setting the pace for the third period with a three-goal run in the first seven minutes. Trailing 6-3, Foote once again slid one past Collins to notch his second goal of the game at 7:37 and spark a goal from Parrill nine seconds later. The Raiders, not comfortable with a two point lead, kept the ball out of the Cardinals' sticks for the next six minutes, tacking on two goals to extend the lead 9-5. With thirty seconds left, Steven Fauz connected with James for a quick goal, sending the Cardinals into the final fifteen-minutes of play down by three.

The fourth period was all about North Central's defense as the Cardinals held the Raiders scoreless, forcing three turnovers and much thanks to Cost's three saves. On the attacking end, Weaver scored his first goal of the contest with 12:23 remaining before a final attempt from Parrill with 1:45 left in regulation brought North Central within one. The Raiders took control of the ball on the faceoff following a North Central turnover and ultimately took the win, handing the Cardinals their second loss of the season.

The Raiders edged out the Cardinals 32 ground balls to North Central's 31 and scored on two of six extra-man opportunities. North Central's defense went 11-11 on clears, but despite outshooting its opponent 35-25, the attack struggled in extra-man situations, going 0-5.  

Parrill led the team with three points off of two goals and one assists, followed by Foote with two goals and Huizinga, Pardo, and James each with one score. Ray's six ground balls were a team high in and Brandon Pearl and Sean Tomonari both came up with three caused turnovers to help lead the defense.

North Central (3-2) travels to Montgomery, Ala. on its first stop of its spring break tour to play Huntingdon College on March 19 at 6 P.M.