Pride rally back but fall short in home loss to Columbia

Pride rally back but fall short in home loss to Columbia
Box Score
April 4, 2026

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Nearing the final stretch of the 2026 season, the Clarke University men's lacrosse team fell by a 13-7 final score to Columbia College on Saturday afternoon at Burrows Field.

The Cougars jumped on top early to lead 2-0 after a low scoring first quarter but then extended their lead to 4-0 early in the second and up to a five-goal deficit at 6-1 with 3:31 remaining in the half as Xavier Howard notched the only goal for CU at the time.

With just over two minutes left Howard was able to assist a goal from Aiden Gudenkauf before Tyler Fleming made it a three-goal margin prior to the halftime break at 6-3 in favor of the road team.

Columbia climbed up to that five-goal lead twice in the third at 8-3 and 9-4 thanks to a 15-minute stretch outscoring the Pride 3-1 with another Fleming goal being the only tally in the third before Jackson Michaels netted a pair of goals to start the fourth and cut that CC lead down to three goals once again with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game.

Clarke was able to continue to not allow the Cougars to lead by more than five goals as Fleming answered a pair of Columbia goals to take the game from 11-6 to 11-7, but CC scored the final two goals of the game to finally break through that five-goal advantage threshold and eventually lead by that 13-7 lead that would close out the game.

Howard, Michaels, and Fleming each had a three-point game with Howard producing the goal and two assists, Michaels scoring two goals and an assist, and Fleming producing his sixth hat trick or better of the season with three goals on 17 shots attempted.

In net, both teams split the minutes for their goalies with the Pride doing so out of necessity after starter Kiereek Mcleod left due to injury after 35 minutes played and making four saves for Jack Fritz to play the final almost 25 minutes to also make four saves.

Clarke men's lacrosse will be on the road next week when they travel to Ottawa, Kan. for an Apr. 11 matchup against Ottawa University scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. CT.