By Mark DeHaan

Calvin men's lacrosse faced a difficult challenge on Tuesday, hosting Centre College at Zuidema Field.

Centre College was a participant in the 2014 NCAA DIII National Tournament, and on Tuesday, proved to be all the Knights could handle and then some as the Colonels defeated Calvin 13-1.

The Knights played tough for the opening quarter, holding Centre to just two goals.

The Colonels then broke open the game in the second, netting six goals to take an 8-0 lead over Calvin into halftime.

Centre added three in the third, then two more in the fourth before the Knights found the back of the net.

Senior Jonathon VanderLaan scored for Calvin to bring the score to 13-1. VanderLaan's goal proved to be the last one of the game as Centre College claimed the 13-1 win over the Knights.

The Colonels outshot Calvin 39-15 for the game. Sophomore Mitchell Alexander made 14 saves in goal for the Knights.

"We came out and played hard," said Calvin head coach Kyle Hofstaedter. "You have to give Centre credit. They were an NCAA Tournament team last year and they are battle-tested. We just have to keep our nose to the grindstone and keep working to improve."

With the loss, Calvin moves to 2-6 on the season. The Knights now look forward to one final non-conference match-up, against Cornell College in Iowa, before beginning conference play.

Calvin will travel to Cornell College (IA) on Saturday. The game between the Knights and Rams is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.