MARSHALL, Mo. – The Columbia College men's lacrosse team put on a dominant display from start to finish, blanking Missouri Valley College 25–0 on Saturday morning in Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) action. With the victory, the Cougars improve to 9-5 overall and 6-2 in conference play.
Columbia wasted no time establishing control, erupting for nine first-quarter goals to put the game away early. Brock Pleis got things started at the 14:06 mark off a feed from Nico Andrews, then added a second tally less than three minutes later on a Drake Morrissey assist. Jack McDowell, Morrissey, Andrews, Will Rivenburgh, William Rusk, and Rivenburgh again all followed in a nine-goal first-quarter barrage that left no doubt about the Cougars' intentions.
The second quarter was more of the same, with Columbia pouring in eight more goals to take a commanding 17–0 lead at halftime. McDowell opened the period at the 14:45 mark off another Andrews feed, and the Cougars kept the pressure on through Pleis, Kai Garriock, McDowell again, Rivenburgh, Adam Spriggs, Andrews, and a man-up conversion from Spriggs in the final seconds off a William Rusk assist. Missouri Valley was penalized twice in the contest — both on Jacob Susa for slashing — and Columbia converted one of its two extra-man opportunities.
Columbia added four more goals in the third quarter, with Rusk, Kail Mattis, McDowell, and Rusk again all finding the back of the net to push the lead to 21–0. Rivenburgh, Rivenburgh, Garriock, and McDowell then closed out the scoring in the fourth to complete the shutout.
Andrews was the engine behind the offense, finishing with two goals and a game-high seven assists for nine points. McDowell and Rivenburgh each paced the team with five goals apiece. Pleis contributed three goals and four assists, Rusk added three goals and two assists, and Morrissey chipped in two goals and three assists. Garriock and Spriggs each tallied two goals, while Mattis rounded out the scoring with one.
Mattis controlled the faceoff circle once again, winning 20 of 22 draws to keep Columbia in near-constant possession. The Cougars dominated the ground ball battle 47–7 and out-shot Missouri Valley 58–0.
Goalkeeper Isaec Emerson earned the shutout in net, going the full 60 minutes without allowing a goal.