ST. LOUIS - In an exciting goal-for-goal game, Missouri Baptist University Men's Lacrosse reigned victorious over Columbia College with a score of 11-9 on Saturday (March 16) in their first KCAC matchup of the year.
The Spartans scheduled games early in the season against some of the best competition in the NAIA, including the number one team in the nation, to prepare for their KCAC games. Since 2018, MBU had only beat CC once before their most recent contest, so the Spartans were determined to bring down the '22-'23 KCAC conference champions.
The Cougars drew first blood, scoring two goals early in the game. Soon after, one of MBU's leading scorers, Reece Dotterer, buried one in the back of the net to bring the score to 2-1.
Dotterer scored again off an assist from Caleb Tant just two minutes later.
Brock Pleis, the fourth offensive stat leader in the KCAC, put MBU in the lead with his goal assisted by Dylan Forbeck. Forbeck now has 15 apples on the season and leads the KCAC in assists.
Joe Busselman kicked off the second quarter with a goal for the Spartans, assisted by Dotterer. CC responded with two of their own, bringing the score to 4-4.
In the third quarter, Tant assisted Pleis with another goal. Soon after, Tant scored his first goal of the game off an assist from Drew Chiodini.
After a goal from the Cougars, Forbeck responded by putting a point on the scoreboard with help from Chiodini, making the score 7-5.
Lefty Busselman put one in the net again off an assist from Dotterer. Using this momentum, Dotter assisted Tant with another goal on a man-up opportunity.
The Cougars were able to break up the Spartans' three-goal streak with two goals of their own in the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 9-7.
Pleis and Tant sealed CC's fate by getting two more points on the board off assists Forbeck and Pleis.
The 11-9 win was a team effort, with lots of help coming from the Spartan's cage and defensive line.
Goalkeeper Ashton Scott made a whopping 16 saves on the game after facing 43 shots.
Tanner Whittemore picked up one ground ball and caused four turnovers against the Cougars. Connor Hickman grabbed three ground balls and caused one turnover.
The Spartans are ready to take on University of the Cumberlands this coming Thursday (March 21) at 3:00 PM.
