RV Trojans’ Big Lead Slips in WHAC Defeat

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – The RV Taylor men's lacrosse team (4-6, 1-2 WHAC) could not sustain a strong start in an 18-15 defeat Saturday afternoon at Lawrence Tech (2-5, 1-2).

The Trojans struck first on Saturday with two early goals as the offense forged an 8-3 lead through one quarter. The five-goal advantage was maintained through the intermission, but LTU's intensity picked up in the second half where it outscored Taylor 12-4 to steal the victory.

TU gained possession on the opening faceoff and Wyatt Marshall sprinted up the right sideline and fired a shot 17 seconds into the game to tally the first goal. Marshall scored again two minutes later as the Trojans led 2-0.

Aidan Craig provided three assists in the first quarter as Taylor got good look after good look in front of the net in the opening 15 minutes. The eight goals scored in the period tied for the most TU had netted in any quarter all season.

Caleb Williams kept the positive vibes flowing with a goal assisted by Craig to open the second quarter that extended the lead to 9-3. The back and-forth frame was illustrated in the half's closing minute when Craig intercepted a pass deep in Blue Devil territory and scored to make it 11-5, only to be answered by an LTU goal in the final seconds of the second period that brought the score to 11-6.

Taylor struggled with Lawrence Tech's uptick in defensive aggression in the third period as the home team tied the game at 13 heading into the fourth.

Carter Prieditis briefly put TU back on top one minute into the final frame, but the Blue Devils countered with three unanswered to make it 16-14 in favor of the home team. Jackson Dale found the back of the net with 3:11 remaining to cut the Trojans' deficit to one, but the final two goals went LTU's way in its comeback win.

For the second consecutive game, Craig notched five assists to bring his career total to 168 as he closes in on the WHAC all-time assists record.

Reid Gerig set his season high with five goals as he paced TU's attack with 10 shots.

10 of the Trojans' goals were assisted on compared to six for the Blue Devils, but LTU held the advantage in ground balls, 43-34. The numbers otherwise suggested a very even and clean game was played, with only six total penalties served and 37 combined turnovers.

RV Taylor looks to snap its two-game slide when it travels to Adrian, Michigan, to play No. 10 Siena Heights (3-6, 0-2 WHAC) on April 3 at 5 p.m.