HIRAM, Ohio – The Alma College men's lacrosse team opened up their spring break slate of games on Tuesday, February 25th, as they traveled to Hiram College in Ohio, for a game under the lights. Alma dominated from start to finish, winning 18-3 and moving to 3-0 for the first time since 2016.
Alma's Lucas Storm opened the scoring just over seven minutes into the game, giving the Scots their first lead of the game. Hiram responded just over a minute later to tie the game back up, but Alma would score the next six unanswered to pull away from the Terriers. Scoring the first of six was MJ Humphreys, with five minutes left in the first, followed by Storm again, just 40 seconds later. Dylan Smith would score on the following faceoff, assisted by Kevin Koenn, before just a minute later, Koenn would net one of his own the wrap up the scoring in the first frame.
Starting off the second, Cole Pearson found the back of the cage while man-up with another assist coming from Koenn, leading to Humphreys scoring his second of the game just a minute later, the final of the six unanswered from Alma. Hiram would break up the Scots consecutive goals as they would find some offense and get to the back of the net at the seven-minute mark of the second, bringing the score to 7-2. Koenn responded shortly after the Terriers goal, bringing the lead back to eight. The Scots did not let off the gas in the final minutes of the first half as Storm would score his second of the game, followed by Jacob Kluk joining the score sheet and Humphreys rounding out the first half with his third, assisted by Koenn. The Scots headed into halftime with an 11-2 lead.
The third quarter picked up right where the first half ended, to a tee, as Humphreys scored not one, not two, not three, but four goals to open the half, with the third being assisted by no one other than Koenn while man-up. Hiram would sneak their third and final goal of the game in between Humphreys goals before Smith then notched his second of the game with three minutes left in the third. Humphreys would score his eighth goal of the game late in the third, tying for second in single game goals by a Scots lacrosse player all-time. Smith would tally Alma's final goal in the fourth, bringing the final score to 18-3, as the Scots stay undefeated in non-conference play.
Cole Pearson would tie for the game-high ground balls with seven, as Connor Cracium led the game with three caused turnovers. Preston Stelljes started the night in net, making four saves in 38 minutes of action. The final 22 minutes saw freshman Gaven Atkins make his collegiate debut, making seven saves while allowing none.
Alma will continue on the road as they will head to Louisville Kentucky to face the Golden Eagles of Spalding University. Game time is set for a 4:00 PM faceoff.
