The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s lacrosse team lost to Carthage College 12-9 on April 18, ending a long conference win streak at Tucci Stadium in Bloomington, Illinois. The defeat marks the Titans’ first regular season College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) loss since April 8, 2017, which was also against Carthage.
This result is significant as it ends a 41-game CCIW winning run for the Titans and comes during their Senior Day celebration. The team competes at the NCAA Division III level and plays home games at Tucci Stadium, according to the official website.
Before the game began, seniors Michael Rocco, Cole Kennedy, Noah Dretzka, Kaden Gammelgaard, Mitchell Breza, Sam Scott, Karsten Nordlie, Andres Morales-Gomez, Billy McHugh, and Kade Miers were honored. Junior Timothy McHugh led Illinois Wesleyan with four points from three goals and an assist. Dretzka contributed one goal and two assists while sophomore Owen Miller scored three goals.
Rocco won 11 out of 14 faceoffs and collected seven ground balls. Billy McHugh matched his personal best with six ground balls and set a career high with six caused turnovers on defense. Scott started in goal for IWU with a career-high sixteen saves over forty-five minutes.
The Titans took an early lead in the first quarter but could not maintain momentum as Carthage rallied after halftime. Despite tying the game twice in the fourth quarter—once through Dretzka’s drive and again when Wyatt Hart scored off an assist from Timothy McHugh—the Firebirds secured victory with three consecutive late goals.
Illinois Wesleyan holds membership in both NCAA Division III and CCIW categories according to its official website. The team will finish its regular season schedule away against Augustana College on Wednesday afternoon.
