Men's Lacrosse Downed By Benedictine (Ill.), 12-2

AURORA, N.Y. – The Wells College men's lacrosse team recorded a 12-2 loss to Benedictine (Ill.) University on Friday. With the defeat, Wells falls to 1-4 overall while the Eagles improve to 6-1 overall on the year. 

Sophomore Tanner Mingen (Houston, Texas) and junior Alex Milliken (Hilton, N.Y.) scored goals for the Express, who posted 32 shots on the afternoon while picking up 29 ground balls. Despite committing fewer turnovers than the visitors (23-to-19), Wells was only 7-for-18 from the face-off "X" and 0-for-6 with the man advantage. 

Senior Michael Flaherty (Rochester, N.Y.) caused four turnovers for the Express, leading the team defensively. Milliken also picked up six ground balls for Wells, falling only one loose ball short of tying a career-high mark. 

Down by a 3-0 score with 6:22 left in the first quarter, Milliken scored an unassisted goal to cut into his team's deficit. Down by a 6-1 score at halftime, Mingen opened the third quarter with a goal only 53 seconds into the stanza to shrink the Benedictine lead to 6-2. 

The Eagles held Wells without a goal across the game's final 59:53 and built upon its four-goal lead, eventually settling for a 12-2 result. Overall, Matthew Johnson led the Eagles with five goals while Tony DePinto chipped in with three goals and two assists. Kyle Wagner was proficient at the draw, hauling in 11 face-off victories that led to a team-best six ground balls. 

Wells backstop Elijah Tracey (Utica, N.Y.) yielded 12 goals but made 10 saves for his team. Jeffrey Smitheram remains undefeated with a 2-0 overall record, having turned aside nine-of-11 shots faced against Wells. He yielded to Jack Collins in the game's final 5:17 of play. 

The Express will host Cazenovia at high noon on Saturday, Apr. 2 in what will be the first North Eastern Athletic Conference tilt of the year for Wells.