Eagles Season Ends at the NAIA Quarterfinals Facing Madonna
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 14 |
|
|
2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 8 |
Team Stats
Madonna
| Game Statistics | Madonna | Reinhardt (GA) |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 39 | 29 |
| Ground Balls | 36 | 22 |
| Saves | 6 | 10 |
| Clears | 23-25 | 18-25 |
| Turnovers | 21 | 21 |
| Face Offs Won | 16 | 8 |
| Man Up | 3-6 | 0-0 |
Savannah, Ga. - Reinhardt Men's Lacrosse saw their season come to an abrupt stop on the opening day of the NAIA National Championship Tournament. The Eagles had their eyes on returning to the championship game, which they have done in the past six of the last seven years. However, a 14-8 defeat to the Crusaders of Madonna University had the Eagles' season ending much earlier than expected.
The Eagles kicked off the scoring with Benjamin Shackelford netting two early goals at 11:29 and 09:23, initially securing a lead. However, the Crusaders responded forcefully, turning the tide by halftime with a score of 5-2 in their favor. The prowess of Madonna's Nick Bryden, who scored three power-play goals, was a significant factor in their performance. For the Eagles, alongside Shackelford, Joey Amatulli, Luke Greer, each scored two goals, with Cameron Ison and Beau Fischer adding one each. Amatulli and Greer also contributed with assists.
Defensively, Ethan Rogers held the post as goalie for the majority of the game before Michael Scoleri stepped in during the third and fourth periods. Despite Reinhardt's efforts to regain control, the strategic plays by Madonna maintained their lead, culminating in a final score in favor of the Crusaders. Rogers had 9 saves in the game on 22 shots on goal. The Eagles ended their season with a commendable record of 11-3.
This quarterfinal loss wraps up the season for the Eagles, but the season was one of growth for this young team. A majority of the team will be returning for next spring, and they should be right back contending for the NAIA title.