Rock Breaks Single-Season Ground Ball Record in Win Over Presidents

The Anderson University men's lacrosse team returned to Macholtz Stadium on Saturday for a non-conference matchup against Washington & Jefferson College. The back-and-forth contest ultimately favored the Ravens (1-10), who picked up their first win of the season with a thrilling 13-12 victory over the Presidents (5-8).

Anderson came out energized in the first quarter, answering an early 2-0 deficit with a four-goal run sparked by Will Harriman, Cooper Harris, and Noah Walsh. The two teams traded goals late in the quarter, and Harriman scored with just one second left on the clock to give Anderson a 5-4 edge heading into the second.

Washington & Jefferson responded with two unanswered goals to take a 6-5 lead midway through the second quarter, but the Ravens had goals from Harris and Harriman, with a President goal in the middle, knotted the score at 7-7. However, two late goals by the Presidents gave them a 9-7 lead at halftime.

Antonio Vega opened the third-quarter scoring with a goal at the 13:47 mark, and later in the quarter, Harris tied the game at 9-9. After trading goals—including a solo effort from Trenton Rock—Anderson and Washington & Jefferson entered the final quarter tied at 10-10.

The Ravens opened the fourth with a pair of goals in the first minute from Connor Kistner and Vega to go ahead 12-10. The Presidents clawed back within one, but Kistner tallied again with 7:40 remaining off a feed from Harriman to make it 13-11. A late President goal made things interesting, but the Ravens held on for the 13-12 win.

Anderson outshot Washington & Jefferson 52-44 and held a commanding 52-32 advantage in ground balls. The Ravens dominated faceoffs, winning 24-of-28 (85.7%), and were efficient on clears, completing 24-of-26 (92.3%). Anderson also went 4-of-5 on extra-man opportunities.

Offensively, Cooper Harris and Will Harriman each recorded hat tricks, with Harriman also dishing out three assists. Noah Walsh scored two goals and added three assists, while Kistner and Vega scored twice. On Defense, Abram Zimmerman led the team with four caused turnovers. Trenton Rock had one goal, one assist, and led all players with 20 ground balls while winning 24-of-28 faceoffs. Trenton Rock broke the Single-Season Ground Ball Record of 125 by Kenny Bentley in 2022. Rock now has 136 Ground Balls so far this season. In goal, Spencer Pruden earned the win, recording 10 saves.

UP NEXT

The Ravens, who hold an 0-2 conference record, head to Richmond, to take on Earlham College (5-7, 1-1) in Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference (HCLC) action on Wednesday, April 16, at 6:00 p.m.