Alma, Mich. - The Alma College men's lacrosse team opened its game with Trine University by scoring the first six goals en route to an 11-3 victory in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener for both teams. The Scots remained undefeated at home and improved their record to 7-3 overall and 1-0 in the MIAA, while the Thunder dropped to 3-4 and 0-1 in the league.

Freshman Jake Ellens (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) notched a hat trick for the second time in three games and added two assists for a five-point afternoon. Ellens, who has scored two or more goals in each of his last four appearances, also led Alma with five shots on goal.

Ellens scored to open the game about 90 seconds in, taking a feed from freshman Jared Nycz (Elma, N.Y./Iriquois). Senior Kyle Schnitzer (Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill) gave Alma a 2-0 lead five minutes later, scoring the first of his two goals, then sophomore Austen Irrer (Midland, Mich./Midland) took a pass from Ellens and found the back of the net while a man up to give the Scots a 3-0 advantage after the opening 15 minutes.

In the second quarter, Alma scored three times in under a minute to build a 6-0 lead, including markers by Schnitzer, Ellens, and sophomore Tanner Diment (Midland, Mich./Midland) to chase Trine goalie Austin Helm. Following the change in net, Trine scored back-to-back goals less than 40 seconds apart to close the gap and cut Alma's lead to 6-2 entering halftime.

The teams held each other in check for most of the third quarter, but the Scots exploded for three goals in just under two minutes to expand their lead to 9-2. Ellens completed the hat trick to start the scoring, while senior Marshall Argenta (Stafford, N.Y./Notre Dame) and sophomore Daniel Buchy (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro) each scored while the Scots were a man up. Alma finished the game going 3-for-6 with the man advantage.

In the final stanza, Irrer and Nycz scored to put Alma up 11-2, then Trine found the net with a late goal.

Senior Al Lesparance (Farmington, Mich./Farmington) made three saves on six shots as Alma outshot the Thunder by an 18-6 margin in scoring chances. The Scots also caused 17 turnovers, including three each by seniors Justin Saxman (Holt, Mich./Holt) and Sam Korbel (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg). Korbel also led the team with nine ground balls.

Alma will now hit the road for a pair of conference games next week. The Scots will face Olivet College on Tuesday, April 12, at 7:00 p.m., before traveling to Albion College on Saturday, April 16, for a 1:00 p.m. contest.

QUOTES

Head Coach Michael Kinney

"This was a great effort by our guys in the opening MIAA game of the year. We preach all season about being seven units strong - offense, defense, man up, man down, face-offs, rides and clears. The guys came out today and executed probably on six out of those seven very, very well. We had guys stepping up all over the field. Jake Ellens did a fantastic job with three goals and two assists, and our guys just persevered, hung in there and got a ton of goals. It's one more down, and we've got a long way to go to get where we want to be."