The Missouri Baptist University men's lacrosse team traveled to Mount Vernon Nazarene University on Monday (March 11) and Lourdes University on Tuesday (March 12) where they lost both games despite putting in valiant efforts. 

Their spring break trip resulted in a close 9-7 loss against MVNU and a 12-6 loss against LU. 

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — What stood out most in the first game of the trip was MBU's execution on attack. Almost every Spartan attacker recorded at least one goal or assist. 

In the first three minutes of the game, the Cougars scored three unanswered goals before Caleb Tant drove to cage and scored MBU's first point at 7:57. 

Joe Busselman was next to score a goal followed by an "apple" from Missouri Baptist's assist leader, Dylan Forbeck.  

After some action on defense, Tant was able to get the ball to the back of the net again with an assist from Drew Chiodini while NVNU was playing man down. 

Mount Vernon Nazarene scored the first two points of the second quarter, but sophomore Brock Pleis responded with a momentum-shifting goal.

On a man-up opportunity, Pleis assisted Chiodini with a shot that he buried in the back of the net.

The Spartans came out hot in the third quarter with a goal from Reece Dotterer, assisted by Tant. 

Despite the fiery start to the third, the Spartans soon fell to the wave of goals produced by Mount Vernon Nazarene. The Cougars were able to score three in a row, and they opened the fourth quarter with a goal as well. 

Goalkeeper Ashton Scott was still able to keep MBU in the game, recording 16 saves and only allowing nine goals to get past him. He now has about a 50% save percentage on the season. 

Dotterer, Pleis, and Daniel Gardner helped out defensively by causing turnovers. Liam Prindable led the Spartans with three ground balls too. 

In the final 49 seconds of the game, Busselman snuck another goal in against the Cougars with help from Forbeck. 

SYLVANIA, Ohio — MBU came out strong in the first quarter with a goal from Pleis, assisted by Dotterer. 

For the next two quarters, Lourdes and Missouri Baptist went goal for goal. Pleis assisted Busselman's first point of the game, and Forbeck put an unassisted point on the scoreboard as well. 

From the start of the third quarter until the last 10 minutes of the fourth, LU scored eight unanswered goals. 

Pleis was finally able to put the ball in the back of the net with five minutes left in the contest. Forbeck assisted this goal, brining him to 13 assists on the season. 

Next, face off specialist Alex Reyes scored off an apple from Busselman. Forbeck was the last Spartan to score with 1:22 left in the game. 

Scott fought to keep MBU in the game, making 17 saves and picking up three ground balls. 

Connor Hickman helped out defensively by grabbing two ground balls. Reyes and Dotterer also grabbed two. 

MBU comes back home to play a KCAC rival, Columbia College, on Saturday March 16 at 3:00 PM.