Men’s lacrosse team defeats Calvin, 21-11

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Olivet College men's lacrosse team scored a season-high 21 goals to beat Calvin College, 21-11, for its first Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association win of the season this afternoon at Zuidema Field in Grand Rapids.

Junior Tyler Polendo led the Comets with seven points on two goals and a game-high five assists. Seniors Dakota Badder and Jack Ranson each scored five goals. Junior Logan Krieger also had five points on two goals and three assists. Junior Nino Minaudo finished with three goals and one assist, while freshman Bryce Drew also registered four points (two goals and two assists). Senior Hunter Teare broke the single-game school record with 20 face-off wins.

In today's game, the Knights scored 31 seconds into the game. Olivet took a 2-1 lead with a pair of goals. Calvin leveled the score at 2-2 with a goal midway through the opening quarter. The Comets netted three straight goals before a Knight goal with 12 seconds left made the score 5-3 after one quarter of play.

Olivet had a huge start to the second quarter, scoring five goals in the first four minutes and 52 seconds. In that run, Badder had three goals, while Drew and Kreiger each had one goal. After Calvin scored twice in a 23-second span, the Comets ended the quarter on another 5-0 run to take a 15-5 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, Olivet doubled up the Knights, 4-2, for 19-7 advantage heading into the final quarter. During the third period, Ranson recorded a hat trick.

In the fourth quarter, Calvin returned the favor, doubling up the Comets, 4-2. Olivet did score two of the first three goals to take its largest lead of the game, 21-8.

In addition to their points, Badder and Minaudo each recorded 11 shots. As a team, the Comets had 51 total shots, placing 38 on-goal, and 67 ground balls. Senior Ryan McGee and junior Drew Radners split time in the cage. McGee played the first half and had two saves, and Radners played the second half and collected seven saves.

Olivet hosts Adrian College Saturday at 1 p.m.