TU Drops Top-10 Clash at Wheeler Field

UPLAND, Ind. – The No. 8 Taylor men's lacrosse team hosted No. 10 Indiana Tech on Saturday in the first-ever top-10 showdown for the Purple and Gray at Wheeler Field. The guests spoiled the day however, dominating play in the early going and rolling to a 24-12 win.

The Warriors (3-2, 1-0 WHAC) set the tone immediately with a score 10 seconds into the match and utilized a relentless and quick-hitting attack that put Taylor in an 8-1 deficit early into the second period. Tech took full advantage of an out-of-sorts TU squad in the opening period, feasting on 10 Taylor turnovers and unleashing 25 shots, with 15 on-target attempts.

Taylor finally found its footing and punched back with three-straight scores in a two minute span that brought TU within 8-4 with 10:08 to play in the first half. Goals from Ezra Jenkins, Henry Cooper and Jack Kaiser were assisted by Will Saxby, Jackson Dale and AJ Harris to briefly put momentum on Taylor's side.

The surge would be short-lived however, as Indiana Tech closed the half with four-unanswered tallies and struck for three more in the first 4:03 of the third period to pad the lead.

In the end, Taylor never recovered from the nightmarish start and ended the game down 65 to 42 in total shots and 40 to 18 in shots on goal.

Cooper and Dale tied for the team lead with four scores each, with Cooper adding six ground balls and Dale posting four assists, five ground balls and a caused turnover.

David Celesti closed with 16 faceoff wins in 28 chances and nine ground balls, and Lucas Pacer finished with seven ground balls and six caused turnovers.

No. 8 Taylor (5-2, 1-1 WHAC) will have another top-10 clash at Wheeler Field in one week, when No. 3 Aquinas (5-0, 1-0 WHAC) comes to Upland for a 3:00 pm start on Saturday, March 21.