Statesmen Dominate Benedictine, Clinch Share of Heart Title

Atchison, Kan.--The No. 10 William Penn men's lacrosse team shook off a sluggish first quarter and stormed past Benedictine, cruising to a 17-5 win Saturday in Heart of America Athletic Conference action.

With the win, the Statesmen (9-3, 8-0 Heart) secured at least a share of the Heart Regular Season Championship and now turn their focus to a title-deciding showdown against St. Ambrose. A William Penn victory would clinch the championship outright, while a St. Ambrose win would result in co-champions, with the Fighting Bees earning the tiebreaker advantage.

Despite a low-scoring opening quarter, where Daniel McQuade (Sr., Tucson, Ariz., Political Science) netted the lone goal off a Garrett Katrana (Fr., Parker, Colo., Industrial Technology) assist, the Statesmen exploded in the second. 

Katrana opened the frame with a goal, and the navy and gold rattled off four more from Breck Putzier (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn., Exercise Science), Max Taylor (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn., Business Management), Everett Breniser (Fr., Centennial, Colo., Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management), and Putzier again. Benedictine (6-8, 5-4 Heart) managed two goals before WPU answered with two more from Katrana and Breniser to take a commanding 8-2 lead into the break.

William Penn kept the pressure on in the third, with Katrana and Taylor extending the lead early. Benedictine responded with two of their own, but the Statesmen countered with goals from Putzier and Kenny Bohney (Jr., Moorhead, Minn., Exercise Science). A late Ravens goal made it 12-5 heading into the final quarter.

The Statesmen were relentless in the fourth. Putzier and Nate Blasingame (Sr., Portland, Ore., Business Management) each scored unassisted goals before Taylor added another off a feed from Max Standage (Sr., Gilbert, Ariz., Business Management). Putzier and McQuade closed the scoring spree to seal the victory.

Connor Russell (Jr., Grand Haven, Mich., Applied Computer Science) was solid in goal, notching five saves in the fourth quarter and 16 total. He helped the Statesmen finish 21-for-24 on clears, while the Ravens went 10-for-14.

Putzier led the charge offensively with five goals on 15 shots and an assist. Katrana and Taylor each recorded hat tricks, with Katrana also assisting once. Breniser added two goals and two assists.

On defense, WPU edged Benedictine in ground balls, 35-24, with Standage scooping a game-high eight. Putzier and Bryce Campbell (Jr., Boise, Idaho) each added five. Campbell also anchored faceoffs, going 9-for-15, as the team finished 15-of-26 overall.

"Great overall team effort from every phase of the game," said Head Coach Luke Christiansen. "A great way to capture a piece of the conference title. Now it's just time to go win it outright."

Next Up: The Statesmen host Heart rival St. Ambrose at Statesmen Community Stadium Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., with the outright conference title on the line.