(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia men's lacrosse hosted their home opener on Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals faced off against Kalamazoo College, looking to get the 2020 campaign off to a good start. The game featured several scoring runs with both teams holding the lead at times, but Kalamazoo pulled away in the 4th to win 16-14.
Ryan Iles (SO/Royal Oak, MI) led the Cardinals with 4 goals in the game. Anthony Tucker (SR/Canton, MI), Nick Stedtefeld (JR/Sterling Heights, MI) and Noah Sorensen each chipped in a pair of goals. Joseph Loria (FR/Fenton, MI) started in goal, making 17 saves while also notching a team-high 5 ground balls and 4 caused turnovers.
Kalamazoo scored first in the game, but Anthony Tucker ran in from the right side and ripped a quick shot for the tying goal. Kalamazoo tied the game later in the quarter, but a long shot from Ryan Iles knotted the game 2-2 at the 2:52 mark. The game remained tied after the 1st.
Both teams scored 4 times in the 2nd with Ryan Iles adding his second goal of the game on a rip from the right side. After Kalamazoo took a 6-3 lead, the Cardinals began to rally with a pair of goals from Nick Stedtefeld. A marker from Noah Sorenson (FR/Holland, MI) with 27 seconds remaining tied the game 6-6 heading into halftime.
The 3rd quarter featured 10 combined goals with Concordia's Jake Brigmon (FR/South Lyon, MI) tying the game 7-7 at the 11:26 mark. After a 9-7 Kalamazoo lead, Anthony Tucker began a 4-0 run with a goal. Ryan Iles completed his hat trick with a power play goal to tie the game, and Noah Sorenson's second marker served as the go-ahead goal. Iles added a 4th marker and Blake Blaisdell (JR/Romeo, MI) scored on a wraparound to put CUAA ahead 12-10 after the 3rd.
Kalamazoo surged back ahead in the 4th, scoring 6 unanswered goals to take a 16-12 lead. The Cardinal offense began to come alive late in the game with Devin Wolever (JR/Battle Creek, MI) notching a powerplay goal and Oliver Niedzwiecki (SR/Toledo, OH) scoring on the fast break off a feed from Wolever. However, Kalamazoo held on to hand Concordia a 16-14 loss.
The Cardinals will remain at home on Saturday, February 29 when they host Clarke. Game time is set for 1pm.
