disalle
12
Cumberlands (KY) UC 9-8
23
Winner Madonna MU 19-1
Cumberlands (KY) UC
9-8
12
Final
23
Madonna MU
19-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Cumberlands (KY) UC 3 1 4 4 12
Madonna MU 6 8 7 2 23

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse |

Madonna rolls past Cumberlands 23-12 in the First Round of the NAIA Tournament

DECATUR, Ala.-- Madonna took control early and never let go Tuesday morning, beating Cumberlands (Ky.) 23-12 at Jack Allen Complex in Decatur, Alabama. The Crusaders led from the opening quarter and effectively decided the game with a relentless first-half surge, building a 14-4 halftime advantage behind balanced scoring, faceoff control and timely man-up execution.

The decisive stretch came across the first two quarters. Matthew DiSalle opened the scoring at the 14:01 mark of the first quarter off an assist from Jackson Gradstein, and although Nathan Cook answered to tie it 1-1, Madonna quickly separated. Spencer Guppy scored a man-up goal at 5:24 of the first to help push the lead to 6-2, and the Crusaders carried a 6-3 edge into the second quarter. From there, Madonna widened the gap with eight second-quarter goals, including an early strike from DeMario Williams and a goal from Ross Preston at 10:49 off a feed from Carter Borsos. Guppy's third goal of the day made it 11-3, and by halftime Madonna had turned the game into a runaway.

Guppy led the attack with six goals on seven shots, including six shots on goal, while Cooper Regimbal added four goals and scored twice in the third quarter. Ross Preston finished with two goals and six assists, serving as a central playmaker throughout the morning, and Gradstein added two goals and one assist. Madonna's offense stayed efficient across all four quarters, finishing with 23 goals on 51 shots and putting 31 attempts on cage.

Possession told much of the story. Madonna won the faceoff battle 27-12 and collected 48 ground balls compared with 28 for Cumberlands, repeatedly giving the Crusaders extra chances and limiting any sustained comeback push. The Crusaders also converted twice on man-up opportunities. Regimbal opened the third-quarter scoring at 12:58 off an assist from Ryan Davis, then added a man-up goal at 9:04 as Madonna's lead grew to 18-5. By the end of the third quarter, the Crusaders were in front 21-8.

Jonathan Bendfeldt played all 60 minutes in goal for Madonna and made eight saves while allowing 12 goals. Cumberlands generated 45 shots and put 20 on goal, but the Patriots were forced to chase after Madonna's early scoring run. 

Madonna added late goals from Reid Dunavant and Guppy in the fourth quarter, with Guppy's sixth goal pushing the lead to 23-10 at the 8:13 mark. Cumberlands scored twice more in the closing minutes, including a Will Rogers goal assisted by Lulow with 3:33 remaining, but the outcome had long since been settled. Madonna's fast start and command of possession carried the Crusaders to a convincing 23-12 result.
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