Men’s lacrosse team suffers 15-12 setback at Benedictine

LISLE, Ill. – The Olivet College men's lacrosse team suffered a 15-12 setback to Benedictine (Ill.) University this afternoon at the Village of Lisle-BenU Sports Complex in Lisle, Illinois.

Benedictine scored the first goal only a minute and 44 seconds into the contest. The Comets responded with two straight goals – one each for junior Tyler Polendo and senior Dakota Badder – to go up 2-1 after one quarter of play.

The start of the second quarter was the same as the entire first quarter for both teams, as the Eagles scored an early goal and Polendo and Badder netted Olivet goals to make the score 4-2 with 9:25 left in the second period. Benedictine proceeded to score five straight goals, including the last three in a 55-second span, to take a 7-4 lead.

Junior Nino Minaudo and Polendo both scored goals off passes from Badder to make the score 7-6. The Eagles put one in the back of the cage with 18 seconds left before halftime for an 8-6 advantage at the break.

Benedictine out-scored the Comets, 4-1, in the third quarter to gain a 12-7 lead. To start the fourth quarter, Olivet fought back with a 4-0 run – two goals for Minaudo and one each for Badder and freshman Bryce Drew – to cut its deficit back down to one, 12-11. The Eagles responded with three straight goals to push its lead back to four, 15-11. Badder scored a man-up goal in the final minute of the game.

For the game, Olivet outshot Benedictine, 36-34. Badder posted game-highs in points (eight), goals (four), assists (four), shots (10) and shots-on-goal (seven). Minaudo finished the game with five points (three goals and two assists). Polendo scored three goals, and Drew had two points (one goal and one assist). Senior Hunter Teare won half of his faceoff attempts (15-of-30). In goal, senior Ryan McGee made six saves.

The Comets travel to play University of Mount Union (Ohio) next Wednesday, March 16. Game time in Alliance, Ohio, is 7:30 p.m.