COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University men's lacrosse team wrapped up their home schedule on Saturday, facing fellow OAC top-four candidate Ohio Northern. The Comets took the field looking for revenge after last year's tight 16-10 loss in Ada. On top of all that, it was the last chance for Cap's seniors and graduates to make their mark on the turf of Bernlohr Stadium in the regular season. This made for a high-octane head-to-head that ended with Capital on top, 13-5. Most notable was CU's stout defense which allowed a season-low five goals. 

Capital moves to 11-4 and retains their hold on the third spot in the conference at 6-2.

Ohio Northern drops to 10-5, 5-3 in the OAC.

SENIOR DAY CELEBRATIONS
As the game marked the last of the regular season for the Comets, it also marked Senior Day for a number of Capital seniors and graduate students who will be concluding their careers at the season's end. As is customary, seniors Nathan Montgomery, James Howenstine, Aiden Manning, Jake Belt, Jack Kilgallon, Ethan Adkins, Evan Frund, Brenden Pelton, and Sam McInturf, along with grad students Dylan Comella, Dom Rocco, and Kyle Wallace were all celebrated with a pregame ceremony.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Comets came out of the gates kicking and screaming, eager for the opportunity to give their home fans a show for one final time in the regular season as well as seek some revenge on a team that beat them by just a few goals a year ago. The result was four straight goals to begin the game; two by Jacob Poole (unassisted), one by Jack Kilgallon (Charlie Howenstine), and one by Mason Spaulding (Kilgallon). This offensive outburst ended up taking all-but two minutes of the first quarter. On the other end, ONU was held at bay by a stout defensive effort from Capital's back line. The Polar Bears were only able to put away one response in the waning seconds on a man-up opportunity. Cap put up four more in the second period, sandwiched by two from ONU. Again it was Spaulding and Poole on the attack, with Spaulding scoring a second quarter hatrick and Poole putting in a single score. Howenstine had one assist thrown in on that first Spaulding score which was also man-up. This left Capital ahead 8-3 at the half.

The pace of play slowed in the second half, allowing only three combined goals between the two sides, Ohio Northern netting the greater share with two. CU's goal came from Frund with the aid of Aiden Manning. The Purple and White would put the hammer down in the fourth quarter, finding four more to close out the contest, 13-5. Spaulding scored two of those, assisted by Howenstine and Manning. Poole and Frund were responsible for the other two, assisted by Howenstine and Kyle Wallace. 

THE NUMBERS
Mason Spaulding was the leading scorer with six goals out of seven shots on goal. He also grabbed one ground ball. 

Close behind was Jacob Poole with five points off of four goals and one assist. He grabbed three ground balls as well.

Charlie Howenstine scored four points – all from assists – as he expands his season total to 38. He picked up one ground ball. 

Evan Frund, Aiden Manning, and Jack Kilgallon each managed two points. Frund's came from goals, Manning's came from assists, and Kilgallons came from one of each.. Manning also caused one turnover and picked up one ground ball while Kilgallon collected two GBs.

Kyle Wallace was the last Capital point-scorer, putting up one on an assist as well as grabbing one ground ball. 

The face-off frontman was Freddy Noday, winning 15-of-21 and collecting seven ground balls. 

On the other end of the field, the defensive effort was fronted by Gino Nave who forced two turnovers and picked up one ground ball. Gino was joined by James Howenstine (3 GB, 1 CT), Ethan Adkins (3 GB), Drew Bolen (3 GB), Dylan Comella (2 GB, 1 CT), and Robert Smith (2 GB, 1 CT).

The last line of defense was once-again Sam McInturf who picked up his 11th win of the season (11-4) with 10 saves over the 60 minutes. 

UP NEXT
The season finale will be in southwest Ohio on Wednesday as the Comets hit the road for a 7:00 p.m. start with Wilmington.