Men’s lacrosse: Comets lose to Oberlin, 16-8

BEVERLY HILLS, Mich. – The Olivet College men's lacrosse fell to Oberlin (Ohio) College, 16-8, this evening inside the Detroit Country Day School Field House in Beverly Hills.

Oberlin jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a goal only one minute and nine seconds into the game. The Comets tied the game at 1-1 when sophomore Tyler Polendo netted an unassisted goal with 9:27 left in the opening quarter.

The Yeomen responded with eight straight goals – four in the first quarter and four in the second quarter – to take a 9-1 lead. Sophomore Nino Minaudo stopped the run with a goal off a pass from sophomore Logan Krieger at the 9:49 mark of the second stanza.

Oberlin answered 12 seconds later to regain its eight-goal lead, 10-2. Junior James Collins made the score 10-3 with a goal, which was assisted by sophomore Shane Prunty with 6:50 remaining in the quarter. There was no more scoring and the score stayed 10-3 at halftime.

The Comets trimmed their deficit down to six, 10-4, when Collins scored an unassisted goal 47 seconds into the third quarter. The Yeomen netted three unanswered goals to take 13-4 lead after three quarters of play.

Olivet out-scored Oberlin, 4-3, in the final quarter for the final margin. Collins got the scoring started with another unassisted goal at the 11:34 mark. The Yeomen scored twice before Polendo scored with 4:31 left. Oberlin got another goal to make the score 16-8. Junior Dakota Badder scored two unassisted goals in the final minute and 19 seconds of the game.

For the game, Collins led the Comets with three goals, while Badder and Polendo each had two. Badder topped the team with nine shots. Collins, Minaudo, Polendo and junior Jack Ranson took seven shots apiece. Junior Ryan McGee started the game between the pipes, facing 13 shots and making six saves in 18 minutes and 57 seconds of action. Sophomore David Smith finished the game in goal and collected 11 saves on 20 Oberlin shots.

Olivet is next scheduled to play Benedictine (Ill.) University Saturday, March 7, for its home-opener, starting at noon from the Cutler Athletic Complex.