ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Baptist University men's lacrosse team suffered its first defeat of 2019 at the hands of (RV) Benedictine College, 16-5, on Friday at Spartan Field. Following a quick start to the afternoon, the Spartans were stopped dead in their tracks and were unable to get the offense rolling in the second half.
 
The Spartans scored three of their five goals in the first five minutes of the game, but from there on out, the points were few and far between. Sophomore Jaxon Haas jumpstarted the offense with an unassisted goal on the first extra-man opportunity of the game. Just a few minutes later, Alex Todd found Andy Coulter for yet another man-up goal. Sean Hess' goal at 9:56 (1^st Qtr.) made it a 3-0 ballgame.
 
Benedictine slowed down the Spartans and eventually evened the game at 3-all. Alex Todd joined the party with a goal assisted by Andrew Spillars at the 7:51 mark of the second quarter.
MBU scored just one more time after that. Andy Coulter scored his second goal of the game to end a 36-minute stretch without a point.
 
It was a long and tedious second half for MBU goalie Hunter Filla, who was making just his second career start. Filla allowed 13 unanswered goals starting at the midway point of the second period all the way to the 3:20 mark of the fourth.
 
Benedictine improved to 1-1 overall and rebounded after suffering a 27-6 blowout to NCAA DII Rockhurst University on February 3 to open its season.
 
Meanwhile, the Spartans are now 1-1 on the year and have two more home games before hitting the road for Michigan on March 12. Up next for Missouri Baptist is a matchup with KCAC's Ottawa University on Saturday, March 2 at 12 p.m.