LEXINGTON- The Transylvania Men's Lacrosse team was back in action this weekend as they faced off with Kalamazoo College on a bright and windy day in Lexington. The Pioneers are coming off a narrow mid week loss vs Centre, hoping to bounce back in today's contest. This was a tale of two halves as the Pioneers would play it tight in the first half, only to take off the brakes and dominate the Hornets the second half. The Pioneers would win this game 15-8, moving the Pioneers to 5-5 on the season. 

Encompassing the tone both teams played with today, head coach Logan Otto said this: "I was particularly impressed with our toughness and how we responded to physical play. This was a great step forward as we grow as a team."

The Pioneers would fall behind early in this game despite the early goal from Casey Fagan earning his only points of the game. The Pioneers from this point on would see 11 different Pioneers scoring in this game with 12 total individual players recording offensive points. Kade Kruger has been on a tear recently as the Freshman would have 3 goals in today's contest matching his career high, as he totals his 10th goal in his career. Kruger would end the game with 3 goals, 1 assist, and 2 ground balls. Andrew Welch would have an impactful day also scoring 3 goals on the day earning his 3rd hat trick on the season, setting him at 16 goals on the season.  

Defensively, Ben Marcum would again prove to be a dominant force as he would finish the game with 4 caused turnovers, 3 ground balls, and 1 goal. Marcum would score his first goal of the season after clearing the ball himself, pressuring the Hornet, and scoring after feinting the defense. Marcum would only allow 1 goal on his watch today as he continues to be playing each team's best offensive player, and earring a new season high in caused turnovers. Luke Plummer would have a great game today as well defensively as the Junior would also have 4 caused turnovers earning a new career high in caused turnovers. Plummer would add 2 ground balls to this defensive clinic as a mid game defensive switch put Plummer on Kalamazoo's Ryan Warezak, where Plummer shut down the attackman for the remainder of the game. The Pioneers would end with 22 caused turnovers, 2nd most this season, and clear the ball successfully 33 times. 

The second half the Pioneers had 9 of their 15 with the following Pioneers scoring 1 goal today;

• Ryan Geisler: 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 ground ball.
• Luke Stetter: 1 goal.
• Jack McKiernan: 1 goal, 2 ground balls.
• Ben Gaccino: 1 goal. 
• Luke Hinton: 1 goal, 1 ground ball. 
• Tai Stormont: 1 goal, 1 assist.

The face off x was dominated by the Pioneers today as Briggs Beck and Parker Rowland would total 23 to their 4. Beck would have a particularly successful day as he would win 12 face offs, 8 ground balls, and 1 goal today. Head coach Logan Otto would have this to say on this: "Today was a battle and we knew it would be with Kalamazoo. They do not let you get anything easy and you have to work hard between the lines. I am proud of our face off crew including the wings and specialists. They dominated from the first whistle on. 

The Pioneers are back at home next week as they take on Denison University, Wednesday April 3rd, at 7PM.