Blazej vs. RU
Ryan Mitchell, MU Sports Information
17
Winner Davenport DAVENPOR 1-1, 0-0
16
Madonna MADONNA 1-1, 0-0
Winner
Davenport DAVENPOR
1-1, 0-0
17
Final
16
Madonna MADONNA
1-1, 0-0
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Davenport DAVENPOR 4 5 2 6 17
Madonna MADONNA 5 4 2 5 16

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse |

Crusaders Defeated in Battle by Davenport

LIVONIA, Mich. — Madonna University came up one goal short in a high-scoring battle Saturday afternoon, falling 17-16 to Davenport after the Panthers netted the decisive tally with 2:37 remaining in the fourth quarter at Livonia. Davenport's Jayden Ashley scored his seventh goal of the day to break a 15-15 tie, providing a two-goal cushion that held up despite a late Crusaders push.
The Crusaders led 5-4 after the first quarter and 9-9 at halftime in a game that rarely offered either side much separation. Madonna's offense matched Davenport almost shot for shot, finishing with 16 goals on 40 attempts and 10 assists as the Crusaders stayed within one or two goals for most of the afternoon. Davenport used a 6-goal fourth quarter to escape, offsetting Madonna's 5-goal final frame.
Madonna's attack was paced by balanced production from Benjamin Reidy and Jackson Gradstein, who each finished with three goals and two assists. Gradstein opened the scoring early in the first quarter to give the Crusaders a 1-0 edge and set the tone for a fast start that produced a 5-4 Madonna advantage after 15 minutes. Reidy capped the Crusaders' scoring with 17 seconds left in the game, cutting the deficit to 17-16 and giving Madonna one last chance before time expired.
The middle quarters showcased the game's back-and-forth nature. Madonna carried a 7-6 lead in the second before Ashley tied it 8-8 late in the quarter. The Crusaders continued to trade punches out of halftime, briefly pulling level in the third before Davenport strung together goals to move in front 11-10 heading into the final stretch. Even as the Panthers grabbed momentum with an early fourth-quarter goal to go up 12-11, Madonna answered to keep the contest within reach.
The fourth quarter turned into a shootout, with multiple lead changes and ties. Davenport nudged ahead before Ashley's man-up goal made it 15-15, and his eventual game-winner at 2:37 pushed the visitors in front 17-15. Madonna continued to fight, with Reidy's late strike narrowing the margin, but the Crusaders could not find the equalizer in the closing seconds.
Statistically, Madonna matched Davenport in a number of key areas. The Crusaders totaled 16 goals and 10 assists on 40 shots, while also winning 15 faceoffs and collecting 23 ground balls. Madonna was efficient in transition with 18 successful clears and capitalized on special teams with a power-play goal, staying within one despite Davenport's 20-15 edge at the faceoff X and 44-40 shot advantage.
In goal, Jonathan Bendfeldt turned in a busy outing for Madonna, recording 19 saves as the Crusaders' last line of defense against a Davenport offense that put 36 shots on frame. His performance, combined with the production from Reidy, Gradstein and the Crusaders' balanced attack, kept Madonna in contention throughout. Despite the narrow loss, the Crusaders' ability to trade goals with one of the region's most potent offenses offered an encouraging early-season benchmark as Madonna looks ahead to its next contest.

 
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