The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s lacrosse team secured a 7-6 victory over DePauw University in its first road game of the season on Wednesday night in Greencastle, Indiana. The result moves Illinois Wesleyan to a 2-2 record, while DePauw falls to 1-2.
Juniors Jake Kahoun and Nate Pound each scored twice for the Titans. Three other players contributed the remaining goals, with junior Timothy McHugh providing the team’s only assist.
Senior Michael Rocco won six out of nine faceoffs, while sophomore Matt Arnold went three-for-five. Senior Karsten Nordlie led the team with five ground balls, followed by four each from McHugh and sophomores Jake Sline and Rylee Blair.
On defense, Nordlie, senior Billy McHugh, and junior Wyatt Hart each forced two turnovers. Sophomore goalkeeper Jaymeson Zackery made eight saves during his complete-game effort.
Illinois Wesleyan held statistical advantages in shots (39-35), shots on goal (20-14), ground balls (39-33), faceoffs (11-4), and clear attempts (29-of-41). DePauw led in caused turnovers (22-14) and saves (13-8), completing 34-of-46 clears.
The Titans started with a 3-0 run. Sophomore Ethan Cavanaugh opened scoring less than a minute into play. Pound added another goal before Nordlie extended the lead after capitalizing on a turnover with just under ten minutes left in the first quarter.
DePauw tied the game at three before Illinois Wesleyan responded quickly. Rocco won a faceoff following DePauw’s third goal; after McHugh’s shot was blocked, Kahoun collected the rebound and scored to give IWU a 4-3 advantage early in the second period.
DePauw again leveled the score before both teams went scoreless for several minutes as goalkeepers made key saves. Freshman Tyce Baldwin forced an error that set up Pound’s second goal of the contest late in the first half, putting IWU ahead 5-4.
Thirty seconds later, Rocco won another faceoff and Kahoun followed up on a blocked shot to score his second goal of the evening for a two-goal cushion. Senior Kade Miers forced a turnover near halftime but IWU could not convert before intermission.
In what was nearly a scoreless third quarter, Illinois Wesleyan drew a penalty late. McHugh assisted sophomore Owen Miller for a goal that gave IWU a 7-4 lead heading into the final period.
DePauw scored twice unanswered to cut IWU’s lead to one. In the closing minute, Nordlie forced an important turnover and Blair recovered possession so that Illinois Wesleyan could run out the clock for its win.
Illinois Wesleyan will next host Benedictine University at Tucci Stadium on Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m., following their weekend break. The team competes at NCAA Division III level as part of intercollegiate athletics at Illinois Wesleyan University. Home games are played at Tucci Stadium in Bloomington, Illinois, and they are members of both NCAA Division III and the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
