With two matches under the team's belt, the Benedictine University men's lacrosse team is about to enter a busy portion of its 2015 schedule. This week, Benedictine will play the first two of eight matches schedule for the month of March: a home tilt with Elmhurst College on Wednesday night and a trip to Olivet College in Olivet, Michigan on Saturday afternoon.
 
BenU opposed old Midwest Lacrosse Conference for Carthage College on Wednesday and fell 14-5 at the Village of Lisle/Benedictine University Sports Complex. The Eagles kept things close early on, trailing just 4-3 after the first quarter. However, the Red Med would shut out the Eagles in the second quarter and outscore them 10-2 the rest of the way to win 14-5. Freshman midfielder Tony DePinto led BenU with three goals, while Corbin Gett and Eric Orndorf each netted goals of their own.
  
Non-conference play continues on Wednesday night as BenU wraps up a three-match homestand when Elmhurst visits Lisle. Just like Benedictine, Elmhurst is in its third year as a varsity program and made positive gains from year one to year two. The Bluejays have an all-time record of 11-18 overall and 6-13 in conference play, finishing .500 in both categories last season.
 
Former members of the MLC, Elmhurst will compete in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin this year. The team had its first two scheduled matches postponed and finally opened up its season on Thursday, losing at Adrian College 17-6.
 
Benedictine experienced success against the Bluejays in two MLC matchups. Last season, the Eagles downed Elmhurst on the road in a low-scoring affair 8-6, with Jeffrey Smitheram stopping nine shots and Andrew Zmijewski netting three goals. A year earlier, the Eagles defeated the Bluejays 16-6 at home, with Smitheram making 12 saves.
  
Members of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Olivet is also in its third year as a program. The Comets have had to successful seasons, finishing over .500 in both 2013 and 2014 and advancing to the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament last year.
 
This season, the Comets are off to a 1-1 start. The team opened the year on February 21 against a strong MLC opponent in a non-conference match, winning at Concordia University Wisconsin 9-6. On Sunday, the Comets played Oberlin (Ohio) in a neutral site game and fell 16-8.
 
Benedictine and Olivet have opposed each other each of the last two seasons. Last year, the Eagles won in Lisle 12-10, holding off a fierce Comet comeback and six fourth quarter goals. A year earlier, Olivet won at the Sports Complex 16-12 despite Smitheram stopping 17 shots in net.