LIVONIA, Mich. - The Madonna University men's lacrosse team went on a road trip for spring break as they would travel to Georgia, Tennessee, and then Kentucky to take on SCAD-Savannah, RV Tennessee Wesleyan, and No. 4 Cumberlands University. The Crusaders would go 1-2 on their trip falling to SCAD 10-11 in overtime and No. 4 Cumberlands 3-18. The Crusaders would beat RV Tennessee Wesleyan 14-12.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Crusaders started their road trip in Savannah, Georgia to take on a tough opponent in SCAD-Savannah whom the Crusaders had beaten in Livonia the previous two years. The Crusaders would jump to an early 3-0 lead after the first period with goals from Kyle Gudme, Reid Dunavant, and Shane Alexander. SCAD would come back early in the second quarter picking up two goals but the Crusaders would answer right back scoring 4 unanswered goals to take a 7-2 lead before SCAD would score to end the half making it 7-3 Crusaders at halftime. The second half would be the opposite of the first half as SCAD would outscore the Crusaders 7-3 to send the game into overtime. Two minutes into overtime SCAD would pick up the game winning goal to hand the Crusaders their first loss of the season in overtime. Jeff Varner would have an outstanding game in goal coming up with 29 saves on 40 shots faced. 

The next stop on the Crusaders road trip took them to Athens, Tennessee where they would take on RV Tennessee Wesleyan. This game was back and forth with each team going on runs making this game a very competitive matchup. The Crusaders would strike first in this one with a goal from Zachary Lane with Tennessee Wesleyan answering right back to make it a 1-1 game five minutes into the first. Then the Crusaders would go on a run scoring three unanswered goals from Nick Bryden, Lane, and Alexander to make it a 4-1 game. Wesleyan would score two goals to end the first quarter to make it 4-3 after one. The second quarter was all Crusaders as they would outscore Tennessee Wesleyan 4-1 taking a 8-4 lead heading into halftime. The second half was looking like it was going to be the same as SCAD as Tennessee Wesleyan was scoring two goals to every Madonna goal clawing their way back but the Crusaders would do just enough to hold on taking the 14-12 victory. 

In the final stop of the Crusaders road trip they would head to Williamsburg, Kentucky to take on No. 4 Cumberlands University looking to get a big upset over the Patriots. But it seemed the road trip had begun to take its toll as the Crusaders would have no answer for the Patriots as they would score 16 goals before the Crusaders got their first goal. The Crusaders would fall in this one 18-3. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 

• Over the three games Varner would finish with 69 saves.
• Alexander would lead all goal scorers with 7 over three games. Dunavant and Bryden would both finish with 5. 
• The Crusaders would have 49 caused turnovers over the three games.

UP NEXT:

Madonna returns home to host No. 10 Saint Ambrose University in a can't miss matchup on Tuesday, March 19th at 3:00 PM from the Madonna Athletic Complex. 

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