Men’s Lax Holds On to Take Down Previously-Undefeated Ohio Northern

3/17/2021 10:09:00 PM

By: Ryan Gasser | Assistant Director of Athletics, Communications

Box Score

ADA, Ohio – Defense served as the name of the game at Dial-Roberson Stadium when the Capital University and Ohio Northern men's lacrosse team met on Wednesday night. No goal was scored in the final 10 minutes of the game but it was the Evan Frund and the Crusaders that had the final the final word after his goal lifted CU to a 10-9 win in Ada, giving Ohio Northern its first loss of the season.

THE BIG FINISH
After ONU closed the gap on a three-goal CU lead, Capital took a timeout to help stop the momentum from building any further. After the timeout, junior Lake Harris (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) lined up for the faceoff and won it clean. Harris was off to the races and as three defenders converged he dished a pass off to his left where sophomore Evan Frund (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) was ready and waiting. Frund had nearly already began his shot upon receiving the pass and his instantaneous shot beat ONU keeper, Cole Zaferakis, for the go-ahead goal.

With Capital up 10-9, the defense took over and held that score until game's end. While goals were not scored, the final 10 minutes continued to be action-packed. The Crusader defense forced three turnovers and blocked one shot out in front of goalie Ben Houser (Hilliard, Ohio/St. Charles). Houser also stepped up his play to make four saves to keep the lead. After watching five shots fly wide and making three saves, the Crusaders had the ball with 60 seconds to go. With intense pressure pushing CJ Hughes toward the midline, Hughes launched the ball through the back of the end zone to create a long field for ONU to traverse.

After moving the ball down the field and having 11 seconds to work with, the Polar Bears were able to get off one last shot. The defense would not allow Kevin Giles to penetrate and he was forced into a shot attempt from nearly 25 yards out. Houser put his stick up to cover the top-right corner and make the save just before time expired, preserving the 10-9 win.

THE BUILD UP
Through three quarters of play, neither team held more than a one-goal lead. It also featured four lead changes and five ties.

While Ohio Northern scored the game's first goal, Evan Frund made an early impact with back-to-back goals less than one minute apart to give Cap its first lead. Ohio Northern tied the game at two with a goal just three seconds from the first-quarter horn.

Pat Berthelsen-Leon complete the hat trick and gave ONU its first lead since the opening goal with goals that left 11 and 1 second left on the clock before halftime.

Frund got back into the action with the first goal of the second half, taking a feed from Nathan Montgomery to tie the game at five and completing his own hat trick. Three of the four goals scored in the third were by Capital, including scores from Brenden Pelton and CJ Hughes' lone goal of the game. That tally gave Cap the lead back, 7-6, a score taken into the fourth quarter.

Preceding the climatic finish, Frund scored goals four and five on the night to create the largest lead of the game and a 9-6 advantage. Ohio Northern then scored three goals to tie the game, leading to the timeout that set the table for the big finish.

THE NUMBERS
Frund had a career day by scoring six goals on 13 shot attempts and added an assist for a seven-point game.

CJ Hughes finished with four points behind 1 goal and three helpers. Jack Scharner scored once and collected two assists. Lake Harris went 12-for-21 in his faceoffs.

On the defensive side, Jaden Kaznowski caused a team-high three turnovers. Ben Houser stood on his head and made 16 saves on 25 shots faced. He also added five ground balls, which also lead the Purple and White.

UP NEXT
Capital (3-1) will take the momentum from its big rebound win and bring the action back to Bernlohr Stadium on Saturday, March 20 to play Heidelberg University (0-4). The Crusaders and Student Princes will line up to begin at 1 p.m.

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