Box Score FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men's lacrosse to won their home opener, defeating Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association, west division II foe, Taylor, 26-2 at Warrior Field on Thursday night.

The Warriors (6-4, 2-0) got off to a slow start as some sloppy passes led to a Taylor (1-5, 0-2) attack and the first goal of the contest. A quick timeout by Tech Head Coach Terry Nichter seemed to do the trick as the Warriors responded with seven unanswered goals to end the first period.

Just five second after the timeout, down by one, Nick Knauf found Dan Schaepkens in front of the net and the junior beat the keeper for the equalizer. Following a Taylor turnover a few minutes later, Josh Puckett had a pair of shots sail past the goal before finding the back of the net with another assist from Knauf for the go-ahead goal. The game winner came just seconds later as Lee Raymond netted his first goal as a Warrior and it proved to be the game-winner at 3-1.

The Tech offense wasn't done though as Puckett scored three more times in the quarter and Kyle Goehring scored to make it 7-1 after the first 15 minutes.

The Orange and Black poured it on in the second as Patrick Kelly found Puckett just 44 seconds into the frame for the 8-1 lead and Pucketts' fifth goal of the contest. With 12:06 left in the quarter, Brain Nichter got in on the barrage with some help from Schaepkens. Puckett and Knauf each added another tally in the second while Nick Allen scored his first goal of the season to make it 12-1 at the break.

It was all Warriors in the first half as Tech outshot Taylor 42-5 in the opening 30 minutes while also winning ground balls, 27-12. Tech was also 10-for-16 in face-offs, 24-for-30 on clear attempts and forced 20 turnovers to just 11 for the Warriors.

It was much of the same in the second half as the Warriors opened the third quarter with five consecutive goals to stretch the lead to 16, 17-1. After a Tech penalty forced the home team to play a man down, Taylor took advantage as Thomas Oster scored the visitors only other tally of the contest. Knauf answered a minute later with his second and final tally of the contest while Collin Hoffman, Nichter, Kelly, his first of the season, and Kueck each added tallies in the nine goal quarter.

In the final frame, Tech scored five more times as Kueck, Raymond, Kelly, Tom Stahura and Adam Cole each recorded a goal.

For the game, the Warriors outshot the Trojans 87-14 while also dominating ground balls, 53-24. Tech also finished 20-for-33 on face-offs and went 47-for-54 on clear attempts. Tech goalies were forced to make just three saves on the game while Trojans keeper made 21.

Puckett led all players with eight points (7 goals, 1 assist), while Schaepkens (2 goals, 2 assists), Nicther (3 goals, 1 assist) and Knauf (2 goals, 2 assists) each finished with four points.

The Warriors return to the field on Tuesday, Apr. 15 when they host Siena Heights at 6 p.m.