ST. LOUIS – While breaking in the newly-renovated Spartan Field on Saturday, the Missouri Baptist University men's lacrosse team nearly pulled off the upset of NAIA preseason No. 6 Madonna University in the team's home and season opener. However, MU's Vince Floro scored the gamewinner in overtime to squeak by the Spartans, 7-6.
 
Missouri Baptist had the upper hand over the 2019 NAIA Men's Lacrosse National Invitational quarterfinalists in the earlygoing, scoring the game's first three goals. Senior Luke Slagle was credited with the Spartans' first regular-season goal of 2020 just 42 seconds in. Returners Jaxon Haas and Alex Todd added to the MoBap lead with goals at 8:19 and 7:28.
 
Madonna softened the blow recording its first goal of the game with 3:46 remaining in the first period. That would be the final goal of the half as both teams were held scoreless in the second period.
 
No. 6 Madonna and (RV) Missouri Baptist made up for the uneventful second quarter with a combined six goals in the third period with four occurring in a short, 1-minute span. Each squad picked up an extra-man goal, which left the game deadlocked at 5-5 heading into the fourth.
 
The Crusaders scored a goal with 11:32 remaining only to have the lead erased with a Jaxon Haas man-down goal three minutes later.
 
Both teams had their opportunities to put the game away in regular time, but couldn't convert. It wasn't until the 1:47 mark in overtime that Madonna secured a ground ball and found Vince Floro for the golden goal.
 
As a team, MBU held an advantage over the Crusaders in face offs (10-of-13), ground balls (34 to 21) and saves (19 to 13), but could only capitalize one of one its eight extra man opportunities.
 
Senior Alex Todd led the Spartans in scoring on Saturday recording his second career hat trick with three goals on eight shots. Jaxon Haas and Joe Ripson both added three points apiece with the former scoring two goals and an assists, while the latter dished out three assists on the day.
 
Missouri Baptist had a distinct advantage on face offs winning 10 of the 13 faceoffs. Andrew Spillars was 7-of-9, while Alex Moore was 3-of-4.