The IU men’s club lacrosse team won its second game of the year Wednesday, defeating in-state rival Purdue.
The Hoosiers defeated the Boilermakers by a score of 12-10, while seven players tallied points for the squad.
“I felt like I was on a spaceship,” said IU senior LSM Phil Johnson. “It was awesome.”
It was pretty awesome; Purdue sophomore Cameron Kilar scored a goal in the first minute and gave the Boilers their only lead of the game. The Hoosiers quickly responded, though, when freshman Nick Fletcher scored a goal of his own – his seventeenth of the year.
After Purdue tied the game at four, IU attackman James Maher added a score and began a 6-0 run by the Hoosiers.
Purdue never gave up, though. The Boilers rallied late in the fourth quarter, finishing the game on a 6-2 run. Ultimately, IU was able to remain in the lead throughout and put an end to its eight-game losing streak.
“It was a really good atmosphere here tonight,” said first-year IU head coach Peter Tumbas. “[There were] a lot of people in the stands.”
The atmosphere was electric at Evan Williams Field as a “standing room only” crowd crammed into one side of the field. Despite their best efforts, Purdue fans were rarely heard throughout the game as “Boiler Down” chants filled the air.
The game, though, should have been called “The Matt Anderson Show.” The IU junior scored a career-high six goals in one of his best collegiate games. The kid simply couldn’t be stopped…scoring from inside, outside, between defenders, and alone in space. He now leads the team with 35 goals on the year.
Although the Hoosiers have just two wins on the season, this game could be a turning point. With wins in upcoming games against conference foes Missouri, Lindenwood, and Miami (OH), the Hoosiers could finish the season tied for first place in their conference – marking their highest finish since 2006.
The Hoosiers battle GRLC rival Miami (OH) next Friday (April 22) at Evan Williams Field at 7:30 p.m. As always, admission to games is free.
Stats for the Hoosiers: Nick Fletcher (2 goals, 1 assist); Matt Anderson (6, 1); James Maher (2, 2); Dan Helfrich (1, 3); Mike Shagi (1, 1); Jeffrey Redish (0, 1); William McClain (0, 1).
