Men’s lacrosse team downed by Capital, 12-5

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's lacrosse team was downed by Capital (Ohio) University, 12-5, in a non-conference contest this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

The Comets scored only two minutes and 57 seconds into the game when junior Nino Minaudo fed a pass to freshman Bryce Drew for a man-up goal. The Crusaders responded with three unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Capital scored the first two goals of the second quarter to take a 5-1 lead. Olivet answered with two straight goals – one each for Minaudo and junior Tyler Polendo – to trail by only three, 5-3, at the 8:25 mark. The Crusaders got those two goals back to regain its four-goal cushion, 7-3. Minaudo scored in the final seconds of the second stanza to make the score 7-4 at halftime.

Junior Logan Krieger scored off a pass from Drew for the first goal of the third quarter to trim the Comets' deficit down to two, 7-5. Capital scored the only other goal in the third quarter to take an 8-5 lead at the start of the fourth quarter. There was no scoring in the fourth quarter until the Crusaders netted a goal with 8:31 left. Capital added to its total with three goals in the final five minutes of the game.

For the game, Minaudo (2 goals, 1 assist) and Krieger (1 goal, 2 assists) had three points apiece. Polendo finished with a team-high five shots. Sophomore Cullen Haesler posted team-highs in caused turnovers (3) and ground balls (5). Senior Ryan McGee was the keeper for all 60 minutes and made 15 saves.

The Comets travel to play Illinois Wesleyan University next Saturday, March 26. Game time is 3 p.m. CST/4 p.m. ET.