LAKE FOREST, IL- The Transylvania Men's Lacrosse team has wrapped up their 2024 season after losing 10-12 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Lake Forest. The Pioneers are coming off an impressive season finishing 11-7 while remaining a perfect 5-0 in conference play, earning a HCLC Tournament Championship and Regular Season Champion honors. The Pioneer finished the season with 276 goals and 151 assists, the most in these categories since 2019, and their first time back in the tournament since 2021.

This game would be one of runs from start to finish as the Pioneers and Lake Forest would trade goals in bunches. The Pioneers would start the game behind 0-4 after the first quarter, only to go on a 4-1 run of their own in the 2nd to close the half out 4-5. Alex Madson would be the spark plug offensively, scoring the first 2 Pioneer goals. Madson would have a great game on both sides of the ball, finishing the game with 2 goals, 1 assist, 5 ground balls, and 1 caused turnovers.

Midfield play would show to be a strength for the Pioneers today as Josh Harney would have 2 goals, his second goal coming in the opening stages of the 3rd quarter. This game would end up tied at 5 a piece following Harney's goal, but unable to stop the Lake Forest offense the Pioneers would trade goals until a 3-0 run to stretch the deficit  7-11 early in the 4th. The Pioneers would make some fantastic defensive stands late, led by the Pioneers HCLC Newcomer of the Year Ben Pund, who finished the game with 10 saves. Despite 3 goals in the 4th for the Pioneers, they fell short 10-12. 

7 Pioneers would score this game, yet to be mentioned;

• Ben Gaccino: 2 goals.
• Kade Kruger: 1 goal, 2 ground balls, 1 caused turnover.
• Luke Stetter: 1 goal, 1 ground ball.
• Samuel Archer: 1 goal.
• Andrew Welch 1 goal, 1 assist.

The Pioneers would finish the game with a strong performance from the face-off x, winning 11. The Pioneers cleared the ball more effectively than Lake Forest going 92% (22-24) compared to their 85% (24-28) clearing.

This game wraps up the 2024 season for the Pioneers, check out Head Coach Logan Otto, joined by Ben Marcum and Alex Madson in the post game press conference below and stay up to date with Transylvania Athletics at transysports.com for future news. 

Post game press conference