Contact: Tyler Bremner, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Results

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Mar. 30, 2024) – The North Central College men's lacrosse team found an equal for the first time this year at Calvin University Saturday afternoon falling 11-8, to end their bid for the program's longest unbeaten streak to start the season.

Calvin (6-3) scored first with a shot from Christian Coler that David Blackmon set up in the second minute of the game. The Knights kept the pressure on as just three minutes later Thomas Smith found room to put Calvin up 2-0 within five minutes of starting. North Central (7-0) finally found a gap in the Knights' defense with 6:07 left as Charlie Snyder put one away to cut the lead within one. As the two battled it out across both ends of the field, Calvin came up with the final score of the first period as Riley Desarbo netted one past Aidan Murphy in the final two minutes putting the Knights ahead, 3-1.

Trailing by two, the Cardinals looked to even the score by trading shots until 10 minutes to go, Joey D'Cunha with assistance from Snyder found room past Corgan Schaumburg to inch back in, 2-3. Snyder wasn't satisfied with only an assist as 42 seconds later he found room for his second goal of the game to knot up the score. With the pressure back on the Knights, they sent another seven shots at the defense until one was let through from Jordan Warners to Christian Coler to put Calvin back in front with five minutes to go. North Central did not allow Calvin to maintain a lead into halftime as under two minutes, Luke Illgen snuck one by Schaumburg.

Coming out of halftime, Zach Kuyava won the faceoff to get the ball downfield just 39 seconds in for D'Cunha to set up Tom Eberhardt to give the Cardinals their only lead of the game. The Knights did not idle long as Blackmon found room with Thomas Smith to tie the game with 12:15 left. This sparked a three-goal run out of Calvin between Blackmon, Smith, and Carpenter with Eberhardt scoring the lone Cardinal goal in between to finish the period at 8-6.

The final period had Calvin score three goals in the first ten minutes from Braden Carpenter with assistance from Blackmon and Josh Moyer to set them ahead by five. North Central attempted to rally as Illgen scored two solo goals in the final three minutes falling shy, 11-8.

On the offensive side, Illgen led the team in goals with three with Snyder following with two and one assist. Defensively Rutger Rawlings and Jake Paris caused one turnover and three groundballs each. Murphy secured the net for all 60 minutes grabbing nineteen saves.

The Cardinals continue the 2024 campaign next Saturday against the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Find access to the full schedule here.

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