Pride survive Northland Comeback to earn 7-6 win

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Getting back to action for the first time since Feb. 24, the Clarke University men's lacrosse team opened their home schedule with a 7-6 win over Northland College on Thursday evening.

The low scoring affair saw no more than two goals scored in a period by either team as the Pride opened with matching 2-1 quarters in the first and second to enter halftime leading 4-2 then scoring the first goal of the third to lead by their largest margin at 5-2.

That would be when the Lumberjacks would come roaring back, scoring the next three goals unanswered including less than a minute into the fourth to tie the game at 5-5 before CU's Doug Powless and Northland's Avery Roerick would trade goals about four minutes apart leading to Justyse White's game-winner with just under three mintues left to make it the eventual final of 7-6.

White led the team with his pair of goals as both Anden Stroik and Brodie Trollop had two for NC but Powless was in on almost every goal in the game finishing with six points on the seven Pride goals with five assists to go with his fourth quarter goal to put him at 10 points on the season through three games, only trailing Matt Archer, who scored a goal in his third-straight game to add to his team-high 13 points on the season.

Both goalies were up to the task on Thursday as Clarke's Jack Fritz made 10 saves on his 16 shots face while Rudy Ruegemer of the Lumberjacks made 12 saves on 19 shots with both netminders playing all 60 minutes of the contest.

Clarke men's lacrosse will be open Heart of America Athletic Conference competition on Saturday when they head to Chicago, Ill. to face Mount Vernon Nazrene University for a 2:00 p.m. CT start between the Pride and Cougars.