Men’s lacrosse: Comets beaten at Augustana, 15-6

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The Olivet College men's lacrosse team faced Augustana (Ill.) College for the first time in program history, but ended up on the losing end of a 15-6 score to the Vikings this afternoon at Thorson-Lucken Field in Rock Island, Illinois.

Augustana led 2-0 until senior Sheldon Berry scored his first goal of the season at the 7:52 mark of the opening quarter. The Vikings added a goal late in the first quarter and two early in the second quarter to go up 5-1. Junior Dakota Badder got one goal back for Olivet before Scott Davis scored twice for Augustana to make the score 7-2. Prunty netted a goal right at the end of the quarter and the Comets trailed 7-3 at halftime.

The Vikings scored five unanswered goals to start the third stanza to take their largest lead of the game, 12-3. Junior Jack Ranson put the first goal of the quarter on the scoreboard for the Comets with 24 seconds left. Prunty scored off a pass from Badder one minute and 30 seconds into the fourth quarter but Olivet still trailed 12-5. Augustana scored three of the final four goals of the game.

For the game, Olivet had 45 total shots, placing 28 on frame to 48 total shots, including 31 on-goal for the Vikings. Prunty led the way with three goals on eight shots. Ranson recorded a team-leading nine shots. Badder had three points on one goal and two assists. Making his first collegiate start between the pipes, sophomore David Smith played all 60 minutes and made 16 saves.

The Comets are now idle until next Saturday, March 21, when they host Illinois Wesleyan University at 3 p.m.