McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team secured a spot in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament Championship after defeating North Central College 15-12 in the semifinal round. The victory was achieved under the lights at Tucci Stadium on Wednesday night, April 30. The Titans, now boasting a 13-2 record, managed to hold off the Cardinals' comeback, pushing their opponents to a 7-6 standing.

The game began with Illinois Wesleyan scoring the first three goals, led by Sam Weinberg and Bob Boone. North Central College briefly ended the Titans' run but couldn't maintain momentum as Illinois Wesleyan embarked on a five-point streak, leading 8-1 into the second quarter. As the half ended, each team secured two more goals, leaving Illinois Wesleyan with a commanding 10-3 lead at halftime.

North Central College gained strength in the second half, scoring two goals within the first five and a half minutes. Timothy McHugh responded with his 25th goal of the season. Despite North Central's attempt to close the gap with four consecutive goals, Noah Dretzka helped the Titans maintain their lead. With back-to-back goals by the Cardinals, the game became a one-goal affair with 8:23 left.

However, Billy McHugh's key move, aided by Wyatt Hart's defensive turnover, boosted Illinois Wesleyan's attack and further stretched the lead. Gage Black capitalized on a screen to push the score to 14-11. As the clock wound down, T. McHugh scored again, cementing the Titans' victory.

T. McHugh concluded the game with four goals and three assists, while teammates Ike Eastburn and Weinberg each achieved hat tricks. Colin Tervo made 17 crucial saves, and Karsten Nordlie led defensively with three turnovers.

The Titans will face Elmhurst University in the CCIW Tournament Championship at Tucci Stadium on Saturday, May 3, at 12 p.m.