ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Behind a brick-wall performance from goalie Christian Moore (Dubuque, Iowa) and a clinical offensive attack, the Beloit College men's lacrosse team secured a gritty 5-2 victory over Augustana College (IL) at Thorson-Lucken Field this afternoon.
The victory moves Beloit to an impressive 4-1 (0-0 NACC) on the season, fueled by a defensive unit that held the Vikings (3-5, 0-0 CCIW) scoreless in three of the game's four periods.
While the scoreboard favored the Buccaneers, the shot clock told a different story. Augustana outshot Beloit 32-24, but the Vikings simply could not solve Beloit's keeper, Moore. The Buccaneer netminder was the undisputed player of the match, recording a staggering 16 saves on 18 shots on goal to preserve the win.
Supporting Moore was a relentless ground-ball unit led by Parker Davis (Inver Grove Heights, MN), who anchored the defense with four ground balls and four caused turnovers. Beloit's ability to disrupt the Vikings' rhythm was evident in the turnover margin, as they forced Augustana into 21 turnovers while maintaining superior clears (23-for-27).
Beloit's offense was efficient, making the most of their opportunities early. The scoring opened just two minutes into the first quarter when John Imbriale (Brooklyn, NY) found the back of the net off a crisp assist from Ryder Story (Salem, Ore.). Later in the period, Liam Walker (Elmhurst, Ill.) extended the lead to 2-0 with a brilliant unassisted effort at the 3:48 mark.
The Buccaneers' special teams proved vital in the second period. While playing a man down, Story showcased his playmaking ability by netting a shorthanded goal at 3:55 (assisted by Walker), sending Beloit into the halftime break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
Augustana finally found some momentum in the third period with two goals, but Beloit's Walker answered back with his second goal of the day, assisted by Cristian Lewis (Seattle, WA), to keep the Vikings at arm's length.
Entering the final frame with a two-goal cushion, the Buccaneers refused to let the Vikings back into the contest. Keegan Heikila (West Salem, Ore.) provided the dagger with 11:31 remaining in the game, scoring an unassisted goal to make it 5-2. From there, the Beloit defense took over, effectively burning the clock and forcing late turnovers to seal the win.
The Buccaneers are back in action on Wednesday night when they open NACC play against Illinois Tech. The Scarlet Hawks come to Stong Stadium for a 7pm game.
