St. Ambrose opened the 2025 campaign with a 13-7 loss to No. 10 ranked Madonna this afternoon at St. Vincent's Athletic Complex. The Bees struggled to keep pace with the Crusaders in the second half as they were outscored 9-4 which allowed the Crusaders to pull away.

Lachlan Hodge came away big for SAU in the first half as he answered Madonna's scores time and time again.

The Crusaders opened the contest with a goal on their first possession in the first minute of play to capture the 1-0 lead early. Hodge answered for the Bees nearly three minutes later to tie the game at the 11:38 mark in the opening period. 

The next goal came with just under four minutes to play as the Bees could not stop the powerhouse Madonna offense. St. Ambrose did not have an answer as they headed into the second period down only 2-1.

Again, it was the Crusaders who scored on their opening possession within the first minute of the period. This time, Hodge answered again for SAU. He netted his second goal at the 12:27 mark. Ryan Swanson was credited with the assist.

Jagger Shaddix tied the game at 3-3 for SAU with his first goal of the season at the 8:36 mark, but the Bees only fended off the Crusaders for less than 30 seconds as Madonna found their fourth goal to retake the lead. St. Ambrose headed into the break down only one score.

In the third period, the Bees ramped up their scoring, but still struggled to stop the No. 10 ranked Madonna side as they netted five goals. For SAU, Hodge, Zakary Brown, and Ayden Fraelle scored in the period.

The biggest different was in the final period as St. Ambrose was outscored by three, the largest goal differential by period for the Bees. Eli Hahn scored his first goal of the season at the 10:53 mark. But, SAU allowed three more unanswered goals in the 13-7 loss. 

St. Ambrose was highly successful on clear attempts as they completed 18-27. 

Hodge netted three goals as Shaddix, Brown, and Fraelle all scored one each.

Swanson was credited with two assists in the loss. Brown and Cameron Washington added one apiece. 

Joe Campbell picked up a team-high seven ground balls. Washington and Hahn followed with six pickups each. Hodge added in five groundballs.

Defensively, Hahn led the way with four caused turnovers. 

Isaac Martinez played all 60 minutes in net for the Bees. He grabbed 14 saves. 

It is a quick turn around for SAU. The Bees faceoff against the University of Michigan-Dearborn Wolverines tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. St. Ambrose will host the Wolverines at St. Vincent's Athletic Complex.