McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team secured a narrow victory against Elmhurst University with a 12-11 win, showcasing their resilience by overcoming a five-goal deficit at Langhorst Field. This win positions Illinois Wesleyan as the sole unbeaten team in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) with an 11-2 overall record and a clean 3-0 conference slate. Elmhurst, ranked No. 15 in the recent NPI rankings, fell to 10-2 overall with a 1-1 conference record.

Statistically, Illinois Wesleyan held an edge over Elmhurst in shots, ground balls, and extra-man opportunities. The Titans were 23-for-24 in clears and forced 17 turnovers, compared to Elmhurst's 15. Elmhurst had a slight advantage in faceoffs, winning 16 to Illinois Wesleyan's 11.

Key players for Illinois Wesleyan included Bob Boone, who led the team in points with two goals and three assists, and Gage Black, Sam Weinberg, and Noah Dretzka, each contributing three points. Senior Nick Schroeder, playing at the X, secured ten faceoffs and shared the team-lead in ground balls with senior Sam Skelton. Goalie Colin Tervo, crucial to the defense, made 14 saves.

Elmhurst initiated the scoring, establishing a two-goal lead early on. However, IWU responded quickly, led by Dretzka, who tied the game with two goals. The game remained close, with Elmhurst leading 7-2 before IWU's rally brought the score to 7-4 at halftime.

Elmhurst extended their lead to 8-4 post-break, yet IWU answered with key plays from Black and Boone, narrowing the deficit. The Titans continued to battle back, tightening the scoreline to 9-7 heading into the final quarter.

Despite Elmhurst's strong start in the fourth quarter, Illinois Wesleyan mounted a decisive comeback, scoring five consecutive goals. Boone played a pivotal role, scoring and creating opportunities, as Weinberg tied the game before Boone scored the winning goal with 12 seconds remaining.

Illinois Wesleyan's defense held strong in the final seconds, clinching the victory. The Titans will conclude their regular season against Carroll University on April 26, coinciding with their senior day. The match is set to begin at 12 p.m. as part of a lacrosse doubleheader with the women's team.