On Saturday, the Benedictine University men's lacrosse team will open its third season as an NCAA Division III program. The Eagles will host Calvin College, with the game time set for 10:30 a.m. at the Village of Lisle/Benedictine University Sports Complex.
In just its second season, Benedictine narrowly missed the Midwest Lacrosse Conference Tournament, finishing 10-6 overall and 6-4 in MLC play. The Eagles placed in a tie for the fourth and final spot in the MLC Tournament with Augustana College, but Augustana's victory over BenU in early April earned them the nod.
This season, the MLC shrunk from 11 schools to seven. Benedictine was selected to finish third in the conference's preseason poll.
Saturday: vs. Calvin, 10:30 a.m.
In a game which was originally scheduled to take place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Eagles will now host the Knights of Calvin on Saturday morning. Also entering its third season as a varsity program, Calvin competes in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Last season, the Knights finished 2-12 overall and 0-6 in the MIAA, placing the team last in the seven-team conference. Calvin was chosen to finish seventh in this season's MIAA pre-season poll.
Benedictine has opened up its season against Calvin in each of its two previous seasons as a varsity program. In Lisle last season, Benedictine defeated the Knights 14-2 behind four goals from
Blake Keenan and 17 saves from
Jeffrey Smitheram.
The Eagles also defeated the Knights in the team's inaugural game back in 2013, as BenU defeated Calvin 13-1 in a match played at Davenport University. Benedictine outshot Calvin 40-17 in that contest.
