Men’s lacrosse: Comets beat Hanover, 17-14

HANOVER, Ind. – A 4-0 run in the fourth quarter helped the Olivet College men's lacrosse team defeat Hanover (Ind.) College, 17-14, this afternoon at Alumni Stadium in Hanover, Indiana.

The Panthers opened the game with a 4-0 run. The Comets trimmed their deficit in half at the end of the first quarter after junior Dakota Badder scored an unassisted goal and junior James Collins scored off a pass from junior Jack Ranson.

Sophomore Tyler Polendo netted a goal off a feed from Ranson five minutes into the second quarter to make the score 4-3. After Hanover scored to go up 5-3, Olivet scored three straight goals – two for Polendo and one for Badder – to take its first lead of the game, 6-5. The Panthers tied the game right with 38 seconds left before halftime.

The teams traded the first eight goals of the third quarter for a 10-10 deadlock with 54 seconds left. Senior Kyle Borek answered seven seconds later for an 11-10 Comet lead after three quarters of play.

Hanover came back to tie the game two more times at 11-11 and 12-12. The Comets then went on their four-goal streak – two goals for Badder and one each for sophomore Logan Krieger and Shane Prunty – for a 16-12 lead. The Panthers scored a goal before Badder sealed Olivet's win.

The Comets finished the game with 53 total shots, including 12 apiece for Minaudo and Polendo. Minaudo led the way with seven points (three goals and four assists), while Badder had six points on team-leading five goals and one assist. Polendo scored five points (four goals and one assist). Junior James Collins had three points (two goals and one assist).

Olivet won 16-of-35 face-offs. Sophomore Josh Lee claimed 10 face-off wins, while junior Hunter Teare had six wins. Junior Ryan McGee played the final 56 minutes and 1 second in goal to earn the win. He made five saves.

The Comets travels to play John Carroll (Ohio) University Saturday afternoon at 5:30 p.m.

NOTES: Olivet had 11 assists, which ties for the fourth-most in school history for a single-game. The 28 total points is the ninth-most in a game in school history.