Polendo’s game-winning goal helps men’s lacrosse team defeat Mount Union, 10-9

ALLIANCE, Ohio – Junior Tyler Polendo scored the game-winning goal as the horn sounded to lift the Olivet College men's lacrosse team to a 10-9 win over University of Mount Union this evening under the lights in Alliance, Ohio. The win is the first at Olivet for Head Coach Matt Holtz.

The Comets scored five unanswered goals in the first quarter, as senior Dakota Badder scored twice and Polendo, junior Logan Krieger and freshman Zach Sanders each had one goal. There was no scoring in the second quarter until there was 1:57 left when Hogan Harris netted the Purple Raiders' first goal of the game.

Olivet got that goal back with just 31 ticks left on a goal by junior Nino Minaudo. Mount Union won the faceoff and scored a goal with five seconds showing on the first-half clock to trail by a 6-2 score at the break.

The Purple Raiders scored the first goal of the third quarter. The Comets scored the last two goals – one each for Minaudo and freshman Bryce Drew – to make the score 8-3 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Mount Union mounted a comeback in the final quarter, scoring four straight goals in the first four minutes and five seconds, to trim its deficit down to one, 8-7. The Purple Raiders tied the game on an unassisted goal with 8:03 remaining and took their first lead of the game, 9-8, on another unassisted goal with 6:55 left in the game.

After Mount Union turned the ball over in its offensive end, the Comets rushed down the field, with Minaudo feeding Badder for the tying goal with 2:13 remaining in the contest. The Purple Raiders had an extra-man opportunity in the final minute of the game. Neither of their shots found the back of the net.

Mount Union turned the ball over and senior Curtis French was able to scoop up the loose ball on the field. After getting the ball in its offensive end, Holtz called a timeout. Following a couple passes, Polendo ripped a shot into the goal for the game-winner.