Senior Hayden Hesler scored his first collegiate goal Friday in Taylor's 12–1 win against Anderson. Photo by Emily Wallace UPLAND, IND. – The Taylor men's lacrosse team defeated Anderson by a score of 12–1 on Friday night in Upland.
Originally scheduled to start at 6 p.m., the game was moved up to begin at 5:30 p.m. with the hopes of avoiding an imminent storm. While the change proved to be a good decision, lightning ultimately caused the game to be suspended late in the third quarter. Sophomores Luke Borchelt and Josiah Peterson led Taylor's offense, each recording four goals. Borchelt also added three assists for a game-high seven points. "We moved the ball well," Borchelt said. "We controlled the ball at every face off and that was the key to our dominance and control of the game." Among the highlights of the game included the first collegiate goals for junior Taylor Christophel and senior Hayden Hesler, both defensemen. Senior Nate Martinez rounded out the goal scoring for the Trojans with two goals. Borchelt and junior Nate Mortensen each collected three ground balls in the game, while Borchelt was a perfect 10-for-10 at the face off dot. "Luke dominated in face offs which gave us ample opportunity to score," Martinez said. "For the most part, we moved the ball fairly well." The game marked the only contest of the 2017 season for the Trojans, giving the Trojans a 1–0 record for the season. The game also wraps up the careers of Hesler, Martinez and goaltender Drew Hanagan, as the trio will graduate in May. "It was a good close to my journey here at Taylor," Hesler said. "We were ready to compete so hopefully that is a testament to our commitment to becoming a varsity sport. Scoring was just the icing on the cake. I love lacrosse and the game has been a huge part of my life for years. There is nothing like saying goodbye with a goal." The Taylor athletic department plans to hire a head coach for the men's lacrosse varsity program this summer.
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UPLAND, IND. – The Taylor University Athletic Department announced today that the men's lacrosse program will be moving to the varsity level starting in the spring of 2019.
The team will play in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, likely joining the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference as an associate member, since the Crossroads League does not feature lacrosse as a sport. "We are excited about bringing men's and women's lacrosse from a club sport level to a varsity sport," Vice President for Student Development Skip Trudeau said in the athletic department's news release. "As clubs they have been a great addition to our campus and taking them to the varsity level is the next logical step." The Taylor athletic department will begin their search of a head coach for the team immediately and hopes to have the coach selected this summer. The team will continue to operate at the club level in 2017 and 2018 before making the jump to the varsity level in the 2018–19 school year. "Taylor Lacrosse has a strong history at the club level and we are excited to take the next step to welcome them into our intercollegiate athletics department," Athletics Director Kyle Gould said in the athletic department's release. "Everything will be in place for them to recruit quality student-athletes who are committed to attending Taylor University." The women's lacrosse team will also be moving to the varsity level in 2020. Senior attackman Mike Kammes tallied two assists against both Michigan State and Wayne State on Saturday. Photo by Josh Adams NOTRE DAME, IND. – The Taylor University men’s lacrosse team wrapped up its 2016 season Saturday afternoon under crystal clear blue skies and sunny and 75 degree weather in Notre Dame, Indiana, falling to Michigan State 6–2 and defeating Wayne State 6–5.
In the first game of the afternoon, the Trojans quickly found themselves in a hole, trailing Michigan State 5–0 at half time. While the Trojans outscored the Spartans in second half, the effort proved to be too little, too late. Freshman midfielder Josiah Peterson and junior attackman Mitch Pawlanta scored the two Trojans’ goals in the game. Senior attackman Mike Kammes assisted on both of Taylor’s goals in the game. Freshman midfielder Luke Borchelt led the team in ground balls against the Spartans, while freshman midfielder Michael Granata finished with three. “We came out slow and just couldn't really get ourselves going,” Pawlanta said. “I think that we were the better team and we let one get away from us that we definitely could have won.” Taking a brief break in between the games, the Trojans rejuvenated themselves for Wayne State. The Trojans got off to a quick start against the Warriors, leading 4–2 at half time. Heading into the final few minutes of the game, the Trojans led 5–4. The Warriors asked to check Borchelt’s stick, which resulted in a one minute penalty for an illegal stick. The Warriors were unable to capitalize on their advantage, giving the Trojans confidence and momentum. Just moments later, the Trojans asked to check the stick of a Wayne State player, resulting in a one minute penalty for an illegal stick. Unlike the Warriors, however, the Trojans capitalized on their man advantage, scoring to make the game 6–4. Despite a late goal from Wayne State, the Trojans escaped with a 6–5 victory. “We kept our heads and played settled, good, team lacrosse,” Peterson said. “Good effort.” Peterson highlighted the Trojans’ offense, scoring three goals and adding an assist. Pawlanta scored one goal and added two assists, both on Peterson goals, against the Warriors. “I love playing with Josiah on the crease because he is so active and controls his stick very well,” Pawlanta said. “He makes it easy to catch and dish because I am always confident when I'm feeding him that it'll find its way to the back of the net.” Borchelt and Peterson paced the Trojans in ground balls against Wayne State, each picking up five ground balls. Kammes tacked on two more assists in the second game. The games marked the final games of Kammes’s career. Kammes chipped in admirably for the Trojans throughout the season and progressed considerably throughout his two year career at Taylor. Kammes is proud of his time with the Trojans and looks forward to the future of Taylor lacrosse. “Today was a great way to finish my lacrosse career at Taylor. I was able to feed all the assists in our first game and a couple more in the second game. It was great to see our team finish strong with a win over Wayne State. This team has been so much fun for the last two years and I hope they continue to grow together without me there. I hope my impact on the team was a step in the right direction to them becoming a varsity sport. I wish then the best of luck moving forward and will support them in a new role as an alumni of the program.” The Trojans finished the 2016 season with a record of 4–4, including 4–2 in GLLL games. Freshman midfielder Josiah Peterson posted a season-high six goals against Dordt. Photo by Jay Gibson WHEATON, ILL. – The Taylor University men’s lacrosse team played in Wheaton College’s annual Holy Wars Tournament on Saturday in Wheaton, Illinois.
The tournament consisted of Taylor, Dordt College and Wheaton. The Trojans participated in the tournament last year, finishing in second place. In the first game of the day, the Trojans took on Dordt. Having defeated Dordt 14–11 last year in the tournament, the Trojans knew they could win the game. The Trojans started the game quickly and never looked back. At half time, the Trojans led 6–3. The Trojans piled it on in the third quarter, tallying five goals in the frame to extend their lead to 11–4 going into the fourth quarter. At the final whistle, the Trojans claimed at 12–7 victory. Freshman midfielder Josiah Peterson led the Trojans offensively, notching six goals. Freshman midfielder Luke Borchelt and junior attackmen Thomas Oster and Mitch Pawlanta also made significant offensive contributions for the Trojans. Borchelt registered one goal and three assists, while Oster and Pawlanta each registered one goal and two assists each. “I was at the right place at the right time,” Peterson said. “Every one of my goals were assisted. (My teammates) put me in the position to score.” By defeating Dordt, the Trojans had set up a date in the championship game with Wheaton. Having never defeated Wheaton in their program’s history, the Trojans hoped to make history. Like the first game, the Trojans’ offense came out of the gates firing, quickly scoring three goals, establishing a lead that would not be relinquished. Senior attackman Mike Kammes had a breakout game for the Trojans, tallying two goals and adding two assists. “I got my first three goals of the season and they were left-handed, which felt great to put in the back of the net,” Kammes said. Oster also had a strong game against his hometown team, tallying two goals. Wheaton mounted a furious comeback attempt toward the end of the game, but when the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Trojans had claimed an 8–6 victory, earning the tournament championship and their first win against Wheaton in program history. “It was really fun playing them,” Oster said. “Always good getting a win in the hometown.” The victories improved the Trojans’ record to 3–3 on the season, including 3–1 in GLLL games. The Trojans return to action on Saturday when they play Michigan State and Wayne State at Holy Cross College. Junior midfielder Mitch Pawlanta tallied three goals and two assists in the Trojans' 8–4 victory over Wisconsin. Photo by Josh Adams NORTHBROOK, ILL. – The Trojans split a pair of games against Wisconsin Saturday afternoon in Northbrook, Illinois.
Originally scheduled to play at Northwestern University, the games were moved to a complex in Northbrook due to inclement weather. The switch provided turf fields and an opportunity for the Trojans to earn their first win of the season. In game one, the Trojans came out of the gates slow. Poor passing, defense and tempo hampered the Trojans from getting in a rhythm. Freshman midfielder Luke Borchelt scored the only goal of the game for the Trojans in the second half. After the final whistle, the scoreboard read 11–1 in favor of the Badgers. “We had the energy but did not direct it to the field and it hurt us throughout the game,” said sophomore midfielder Rowen Walton. “We made mistakes, didn't connect our passes and couldn't find the shots on net.” The Trojans refocused after game one, having a better idea of what to expect for game two. The sporadic weather and level of competition were no longer an unknown factor. The focus translated into execution from the opening whistle, with the Trojans scoring two goals early in the first half. “We came out with a new energy that I haven't seen from Taylor lacrosse since I've been here,” said junior midfielder Mitch Pawlanta. “The team played physical, fast and controlled. This was the first time that we played a complete game and didn't take our foot off the gas. A very complete game overall.” Pawlanta led the charge for the Trojans, tallying a hat trick and two assists as well as forcing many turnovers. Freshman attackman Josiah Peterson also tallied three goals, while Borchelt and senior attackman AJ Ablog each added a goal to round out the scoring. Another high point of the game was the contributions from freshmen Nate Meyer and Devin May. Meyer provided sound defense, constantly causing havoc and forcing turnovers. May picked up a ground ball and secured possession near the end of the game, the final nail in the Badgers’ coffin. “We had a huge contribution from our new guys,” Pawlanta said. “They came out prepared and stepped into rolls that needed to be filled.” When the final whistle was blown, the Trojans had earned their first victory of the season, defeating the Badgers 8–4. “I was super proud of the guys making the necessary adjustments after the first game to step it up and get a win right after that,” said junior attackman Thomas Oster. The Trojans return to action Saturday when they travel to Wheaton, Illinois to play Dordt and Wheaton. Freshman midfielder Luke Borchelt tallied his fourth goal of the season in the first quarter against the Saints. Photo by Josh Adams GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – The Trojans fell to the Aquinas Saints by a score of 22–2 Monday night in Grand Rapids.
Limited by injuries and other restrictions, the Trojans were only able to bring 12 field players plus a goalie. The lack of depth wore down the Trojans quickly and prevented the team from getting on a roll early in the game. The Trojans’ defense began the first quarter well, stifling various Saints’ attempts. The Saints’ offense persevered as the first quarter pushed on. Freshman midfielder Luke Borchelt got the Trojans on the board towards the end of the first quarter after taking the ball away from an Aquinas midfielder. At the end of the first quarter, the Trojans trailed 6–1. “They moved the ball well; we got beat on the second slide,” Borchelt said. “Couldn’t get clear and get possession.” The Trojans hoped to stop the bleeding in the second quarter. The Saints continued to pile on to their lead. Senior attackman AJ Ablog found the back of the Saints’ net midway through the second quarter. The goal briefly bandaged the Trojans’ wound. At half time, the scoreboard read Saints 13, Trojans 2. “We had some great looks,” Ablog said. “We played with what we had and I’m proud of our team and how we played.” The second half was largely an opportunity for the less-experienced Trojans to get playing time against a good opponent. Freshmen midfielders Michael Granata and Devin May saw significant playing time. Sophomore defenseman Brode Breuker played nearly the full game. Breuker recorded a team-high five ground balls. The Trojans’ offense failed to generate any goals during the second half. When the final horn sounded, the Saints walked away with a 22–2 victory. The loss moves the Trojans to 0–2 on the young season. With the announcement of two forfeits for the upcoming weekend’s games against Schoolcraft and Northwood, the Trojans head in to spring break with a record of 0–4. The Trojans return to action on April 2 when they take on Notre Dame and Wisconsin at Northwestern University. Junior attackman Thomas Oster scoring one of his team-high five goals against Ball State. Photo by Josh Adams UPLAND, IND. – The Taylor University men’s lacrosse team dropped their season opener to the Ball State Cardinals by a score of 21–11 on Saturday afternoon at Wheeler Field.
Blessed with a beautiful turf field and clear skies, the Trojans came out of the gates firing, leading 5–2 after the first quarter. The offense was led by junior attackman Thomas Oster, who tallied two goals in the quarter and finished with a team-high of five. “We started strong,” said freshman attackman Josiah Peterson. The Trojans began to lose steam in the second quarter, being outscored by the Cardinals 5–1. The team’s offense dried up after Oster temporarily left the game with an apparent upper-body injury. At halftime the Trojans trailed the Cardinals 7–6. “Things did not go our way and we began to get frustrated,” Peterson said. After halftime, the Trojans looked to rebound from their poor quarter and regain the lead. Due in large part to turnovers and missed ground balls, the Trojans were unable to overtake the Cardinals the rest of the afternoon. After three quarters the Cardinals led 16–9. “We made mistakes,” said sophomore midfielder Rowen Walton. “Now we have a stepping stone to work off of. We know we can improve.” The Trojans fought through the fourth quarter, largely with younger and inexperienced players. The non-league game provided a chance to get those players valuable playing time and experience. “For my first game playing I really enjoy being on this team,” said freshman midfielder Michael Granata. “We all picked each other up.” Peterson and freshman midfielder Luke Borchelt also provided offense for the Trojans, each tallying three goals. After the final seconds ticked off the clock, the scoreboard read 21–11 in favor of Ball State. The teams gathered at midfield to say a quick prayer over their seasons. The Trojans return to action on Saturday as they host the Anderson Ravens. Face-off is set for 1 p.m. UPLAND, IND. – The 2016 season marks the beginning of a new era for the Taylor University men’s lacrosse team.
The 2016 edition of the team features 16 players, including eight returnees. The roster looks drastically different than it did one year ago. The make up of the team is heavily comprised of a combination of youth and inexperience, featuring four freshmen and four rookie upperclassmen. “We have a lot of room for growth,” said freshman midfielder Josiah Peterson. “I feel we will rise to the challenge and grow closer as a team.” With youth and inexperience also comes a bright future, something the team has longed for the last couple of seasons. While being led by experienced upperclassmen provided ability and leadership, large personnel changes each year crippled the team from consistently establishing themselves. The change to youth provides stability moving forward, something the program has sorely needed for many years. Peterson and fellow freshman Luke Borchelt give the team two bonafide young stars. “The experience and leadership (Peterson and Borchelt) will give us is invaluable. It’s just the start of what they will do,” said senior attackman AJ Ablog. “They will have a huge impact on this program.” The Trojans have also established a relationship with the Taylor athletic department. The team now reports directly to interim athletic director Amy Stucky. The relationship will allow the team to receive operating assistance and guidance as well as monetary aid. “The relationship allows us to use them as an outlet and it gives us a clearer and brighter future with them on our side,” said junior defenseman and team president Hayden Hesler. The 2016 season also marks the beginning of the Trojans’ era as part of the Great Lakes Lacrosse League. Formerly a member of the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association, the Trojans look to establish a winning reputation in the GLLL. Consisting of NCAA Division I and private schools alike, the GLLL will provide a variety of opponents for the Trojans, ranging from Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame to Wheaton College and Dordt College. The Trojans open their season by hosting Ball State in a non-league game on Feb. 27. “It should be an exciting season,” said Peterson. “The future is bright and the future starts now.” |