The Illinois Wesleyan men’s lacrosse team overpowered Aurora University in a non-conference home game on Saturday, April 2. The 19-10 victory bumped the Titans up to a 5-4 record in non-CCIW play for the season.
IWU beat out AU in shots (58-49), shots-on-goal (31-25) and saves (15-12).
The Titans managed an early two-point advantage by the end of the first period. The senior trio of Rick Smith, Paul Mucci and Griffin DeMilt helped push out the 5-3 lead.
Co-captain Smith set the scoring pace for the Titans with five goals and two assists. Smith also contributed four of the six points that closed out the third quarter, all of which were unassisted.
Sophomore Gage Black and and junior Jaxon Henderickson followed Smith’s lead, contributing three points apiece. Black added three goals, while Hendrickson contributed two goals and an assist.
Mucci and junior Connor Kiichle contributed the two additional unassisted goals that put the Titans up 17-8 with one quarter to go.
The Spartans pulled out two goals in the final period in an attempt to close the deficit, but the Titans had other plans. With five minutes to spare, Hendrickson found the Spartans’ net for back-to-back goals.
The game ended with a 19-10 Titan victory, bumping the team to 5-4 overall for the season.
Smith and the rest of the men’s lacrosse team will be back in action on Saturday, April 9 for a clash with Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.