Men’s Lacrosse Defeats Augie for Fifth Straight Win
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s lacrosse team used an explosive offense to pick up a 22-4 win against College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin foe Augustana College Saturday, April 8. The Titans saw 13 different players record a goal, while 15 members finished with a point in the contest as IWU stretched its win streak to five.
The Green and White offense was led by senior Carson Kiichle’s (Vancouver, Wash.-Skyview) six-point game, as he notched two goals and four assists. Junior Ike Eastburn (Colorado Springs, Colo.-Cheyenne Mountain) recorded a match-leading four goals, while senior Connor Kiichle (Vancouver, Wash.-Skyview) had two goals and two assists to compile four points. Senior Everett Carstens (Tigard, Ore.-Tigard) notched his first career hat trick.
At the x, the Titans went a combined 27-for-29, led by sophomore Nick Schroeder’s (Waunakee, Wis.-Waunakee) perfect 13-for-13. Sophomore Zo Lombardo (Elgin, Ill.-St. Viator) added nine wins on 10 faceoffs, while freshman Michael Rocco (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) finished 5-for-6.
Schroeder led IWU with seven ground balls, tying the match-high. Junior Ethan Hart (Littleton, Colo.-J.K. Mullen) scooped up six, while Lombardo, sophomore Jake Gisi (Wentzville, Mo.-Chaminade College Prep), and freshman Noah Dretzka (Delafield, Wis.-Kettle Moraine) each finished with five. Hart and senior Michael Campagna (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Saint Viator) led the defense with four caused turnovers.
Sophomore Colin Tervo (West Linn, Ore.-West Linn) picked up the win between the posts to move to 6-2 on the season. In 30 minutes of action, Tervo finished with six saves on eight shots for a .750 save percentage, four ground balls, and one caused turnover. Junior Alex Oximana (Seattle, Wash.-Bishop Blanchet) came in relief, making five saves while allowing two goals in the second half of the contest.
Illinois Wesleyan had control from the first faceoff, scoring three times in the first 1:29 of play to take a 3-0 lead. The Titans expanded the opening quarter advantage to 8-1, as five players scored a goal. Eastburn paced the attack in the early goings, scoring three in the 15-minute span. The overpowering period was fueled by a perfect 11-for-11 showing at the x between Schroeder and Lombardo. Schroeder went 9-for-9 and Lombardo won both of his faceoffs.
Campagna cracked open the scoring in the second period, as he buried a pass from Carson Kiichle to put the Titans up, 9-1, with 5:45 remaining in the second period. Carstens found the back of the net for the second time at the 5:02 mark to push the lead to 10-1. Augie cut the lead to eight with just under four minutes to play, but junior Brandon Baumgarten (Peoria, Ill.-Dunlap) and Eastburn each tallied a goal to up the lead to 12-2 at the half.
Augustana recorded the first point of the third quarter to bring the lead back to nine with 13:04 remaining in the third period, but the Titans would rattle off five straight goals to push the lead to 17-3 with the final period in sight, eventually coasting to a 22-4 win.
Illinois Wesleyan returns to action Saturday, April 15. The Titans will travel to Elmhurst University for a 1 p.m. battle.
