CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. - Coming off a close loss to #10 Webber International University to open the season, the Crusaders ventured down to Kentucky to take on the Saints of Thomas Moore University. The Crusaders put on a spectacle as they dominated Thomas Moore throughout the entire game, running away with the win 23-4.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Madonna set the tone early, scoring three unanswered goals right out the gate. The first strike would come from Mark Paul, and then Shane Alexander would follow with two goals of his own before the Saints even knew what hit them. The Saints would finally get on the board with a goal of their own, but Logan Borysiak would fire right back off of an assist from Dylan Hicks. In the final minutes of the first period, it was Nick Bryden who would find the net for the Crusaders with a great assist from Zachary Lane to give the Crusaders a 5-1 lead after one period.

The Saints would score in the opening seconds of the second period, but that would be the only bright spot in this period for them as Madonna continued to run up the score. Vince Floro would punch in his third goal of the season, and Paul would follow with his second score of the day. Not even a minute later, a ground ball pickup by DeMario Williams would set up Nick Conrad with a goal. The Crusaders offense kept firing on all cylinders as Blazej Cimochowski would find the net for the score, followed by Borysiak less than two minutes later as he would drop in his second score of the day. To end the period, Lane would get his first goal to put the Crusaders up 11-2 at the half.

Aiden Haver subbed in for starting goalie Jeff Varner to start the third period. The break didn't seem to do anything for the Saints, as Madonna continued to dominate them in the second half. Kyle Gudme would get the Crusaders on the board first in the second half off of an assist from Conrad. Hicks would get a goal of his own soon after as the Crusaders continued to rack up points. Alexander would land another goal, and just a minute later, set up Gudme for another goal by hitting him with a smooth assist. Lane and Gudme would each score another goal before the period closed with a 19-3 score in the Crusaders' favor.

Gudme would score his fourth goal of the day in the opening seconds of the fourth period. Evan Bunch would follow his lead, adding another Crusader goal to the statsheet. Floro would hit Lane with an assist to set up Lane for his third goal of the day. Alexander would also go on to score his fourth goal of the afternoon as Madonna would close out their dominant performance 23-4.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Alexander and Gudme tied for the most goals in the game with four each.
• Lane tied with Alexander for the most points on the team with five: he recorded three goals, two assists and one caused turnover.
• Paul and Borysiak each scored two goals.
• Hicks recorded two assists and one goal. 
• Bryden led the team in caused turnovers with three and scored one goal.
• 12 different Madonna players scored in the game.
• Varner and Haver each had seven saves at goalie.

UP NEXT:

The Crusaders will return to Michigan and play at the Legacy Center in Brighton where they will face Midland University on Friday, March 3rd at 1:00 pm.