FOND DU LAC, Wis. – In a commanding road performance, the Beloit College men's lacrosse team showcased a potent offense and a stifling defense to secure an 8-3 victory over Marian University (Wis.) this evening at Smith Field. The Buccaneers (4-5, 1-4 NACC) utilized a dominant performance at the face-off X and a career-best passing night from Ryder Story (Salem, Ore.) to control the tempo from start to finish.
The story of the night for Beloit was the junior Story, who served as the primary facilitator for the Buccaneers' attack. Story finished the contest with a staggering five assists, involving himself in over 60% of Beloit's scoring plays.
Beloit wasted no time getting on the board. Just 90 seconds into the first period, Rilan Larmore (Olympia, Wash.) found the back of the net off a precision pass from Story to give the Bucs a 1-0 lead. The duo would bookend the game's scoring as well, connecting for Beloit's final goal late in the fourth period.
Beloit's special teams proved to be a difference-maker, particularly in the first half. The Buccaneers capitalized on two extra-man opportunities to build an early cushion. Sky Solig (Warroad, MN) was the beneficiary of both man-up situations, scoring at the 2:00 mark of the first period and again early in the second, both assisted by Story. These tallies helped Beloit enter halftime with a 3-1 lead and all the momentum.
The Buccaneers also dominated the possession battle thanks to Cristian Lewis (Seattle, WA), who was nearly perfect at the face-off circle. Lewis won 10 of his 13 face-offs (77%) and collected a team-high 7 ground balls, ensuring Beloit's offense stayed on the field.
After Marian (0-7, 0-5 NACC) cut the lead to 3-1 in the second period, Beloit responded with a three-goal run. John Imbriale (Brooklyn, NY) scored midway through the third, followed by an unassisted strike from Isaac Guttormson (West Bend, Wis.) with less than a minute left in the period. In the final frame, Liam Walker (Elmhurst, Ill.) put the game out of reach with back-to-back goals to push the lead to 7-2.
Defensively, the Buccaneers were relentless. Parker Davis (Inver Grove Heights, MN) led the charge with three caused turnovers and five ground balls, while goalkeeper Christian Moore (Dubuque, Iowa) anchored the unit. Moore turned away six shots to earn the victory, holding the Sabres to just three goals over 60 minutes of play. Beloit's defensive unit was particularly impressive on the clear, successfully exiting their own zone 17 times.
The Buccaneers are back in action on the road on Saturday when they head to Lisle, Illinois and Benedictine University. Game time from the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex is set for 1 pm.
