Ravens Record Historic Win against Lions

The Anderson University men's lacrosse team recorded a historic win against the Mount St. Joseph University Lions on Saturday in a Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference (HCLC) contest at Macholtz Stadium. The Ravens (2-5, 1-0), who celebrated Senior Night, defeated the Lions (3-6, 0-2) 19-9.

Saturday's game marked a historic night for the Ravens who have now earned their most wins in a single season, recorded the programs first HCLC win, broke the single-game goals record with Cole Whatley's (Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy) seven goals, and broke the team single-game goals record for the second time this season. 

Before Saturday's game, the Ravens honored their two seniors, Josh Ekberg (Mahomet, Ill./Mahomet-Seymour) and Tristan Wilbrandt (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral), and their contribution to the men's lacrosse program. During Ekberg's career, he started in three of the 13 games he appeared in. Ekberg recorded one goal and three assists as a Raven while obtaining 46 ground balls and causing 19 turnovers as a long stick middie. Wilbrandt started in 21 of his 22 games he played in, recording himself 25 goals and 14 assists over the three seasons. He tallied up 70 ground balls and caused 10 turnovers during his time as a Raven. Congratulations to Ekberg and Wilbrandt for their contributions to Anderson University and the men's lacrosse program

Three minutes and five seconds was all that went by before the Ravens found the goal for the first time. Wilbrandt recorded an unassisted goal to take the early lead. Whatley followed with his first goal on his historic night at 10:35 in the first quarter in a man-up situation with an unassisted goal. Johnathan Havener (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmount) built the Ravens lead to 3-0 over the Lions at 8:40 on the clock with a goal assisted by Logan Lawrence (Westfield, Ind./Westfield). The Lions went on to record three goals between the 8:08 and 4:39 mark. The Ravens closed out the quarter with three more goals. Havener and Wilbrandt earned their second goals of the game, while Josh Rhodes (Vienna, Va./James Madison) closed out the quarter with his first. The Ravens held a 6-3 lead over the Lions heading into the second quarter.

"We started off strong and had some confidence but we didn't play disciplined defense and we let Mount St. Joseph right back in," stated Coach Jacob Ashton.

The second quarter went in favor of the Lions, who came within one of the Ravens. The Ravens only goal of the quarter came at 9:59 with Rhodes finding the back of the net for the second time. The Lions found the back of the net three times over the quarter. After the 6:44 mark, neither team was able to get past the other's defense. Going into halftime, the Ravens held a 7-6 lead over the Lions.

The third quarter saw the highest-scoring quarter for the Ravens and the game overall as Anderson netted nine goals. Fifty-nine seconds into the quarter, Wilbrandt earned himself a hat-trick, giving the Ravens a 8-6 lead. At 11:32 the Lions came within one for the last time, making it a 8-7 game in favor of the Ravens. Whatley went off in the third quarter, finding the back of the net six times. Whatley scored off a Wilbrandt assist at 9:28. Three minutes and thirty-four seconds would go by before Whatley once again beat the Lions goalkeeper, earning his first hat-trick of the game off a Lawrence assist. Jacob Spratley (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East) joined in on the scoring, making it a 11-7 game with 5:18 remaining in the third quarter. The Lions would get one more before the Ravens capitalized on their opportunities for the remainder of the quarter. Lawrence joined in on the scoring at 2:45 making it a 12-8 game. Whatley and Rhodes teamed up for back-to-back goals at 1:17 and 1:02. Rhodes then beat the Lions goalkeeper off a Spratley assist with 48 seconds on the clock. A second hat-trick for Whatley closed out the quarter with 11 seconds left. The Ravens headed into the fourth quarter holding a 16-8 lead over the Lions.

The Lions got their ninth and final goal of the game 46 seconds into the fourth quarter. Marking his historic night, Whatley found the back of the net for the seventh time, assisted by Rhodes in a man-up situation. The Ravens closed out the game with two goals by Wilbrandt, giving the Ravens a 10 goal victory over the Lions.

"Mount St. Joseph was tough and capitalized on our mistakes in the first half" said Coach Ashton, "[but] we came out much stronger in the second half, capitalizing on Mount St. Joseph's mistakes and fixing some things defensively. Tristan [Wilbrandt] played a phenomenal game and Cole [Whatley] did some great things at the face off X and on offense; we took care of the ball and cleaned up our fundamentals."

Whatley ended the Ravens historic night being 10-19 from the face-off, and leading the Ravens with seven goals and nine ground balls. Wilbrandt was close behind him with five goals, one assist, and five ground balls. Bryce Johnson (Greenfield, Ind./Cathedral) played a key role in the Ravens defense, taking eight ground balls and leading the Ravens with five caused turnovers. Eric Fisher (Indianapolis, Ind./Southport) played a crucial role in goal, making 11 saves on 20 shots against the Lions offense.

"Defensively Bryce [Johnson] played very well and Eric [Fisher] continues to show leadership in the goal." Coach Ashton closed out his statements with.

The Ravens will be back in HCLC action on Wednesday as they hit the road to take on the Earlham College Quakers (1-9, 0-1). Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. in Richmond.