BLOOMINGTON, Ill.- The Illinois Wesleyan University kicks off NCAA Tournament play inside the friendly confines of Tucci Stadium Friday, May 14, with a 1 p.m. game against the University of Northwestern-St. Paul. After the IWU-UNW clash, Hope College and Benedictine University will square off at 4 p.m. in the second first round game at Tucci.
    IWU (13-1) secured its fourth automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament after an exciting 18-17 overtime win over North Central College in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament Championship Saturday, May 8. UNW (7-3) gained its first-ever automatic bid and conference title after a 17-4 win over Monmouth College in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference Tournament Sunday, May 8.
Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. and can be viewed via live stream. Live stats for the game will also be available. Links to follow along can be found on the men's lacrosse schedule page of IWUsports.com.

STILL STREAKING: With IWU's AQ-clinching win in the CCIW Tournament Championship, the Titans earned their fourth straight automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The streak began in 2017, and saw Illinois Wesleyan also earn berths in 2018, 2019, and now in 2021.

THE TOURNAMENT RUNS THROUGH TUCCI: IWU will host for the second time in program history, and the first since the Titans hosted Rhodes in the first round of the 2019 tournament.

IWU IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT: Overall, IWU is 1-3 in the tournament. The Titans advanced to the second round in 2017 with a 19-15 win over Aurora May 10. In the second round in 2017, IWU was halted by Denison. The Big Red also edged the Titans in the opening round of 2018, while Illinois Wesleyan dropped a first round match to Rhodes in 2019.

THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: IWU and UNW will battle for the first time on Friday. The Eagles have seen familiar CCIW opponents of Augustana and Elmhurst during its 2021 non-conference schedule. UNW dropped both matches against the CCIW competition 15-7 and 12-9, respectively.

IN THE POLLS: The Titans checked in at No. 16 in the final Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Top-20 in the final poll of the regular season announced May 10. The ranking is the highest in program history for IWU, which is also ranked first in a list of eight teams in the Region V rankings.

STELLAR STAT RANKINGS: The Titans have been one of the most potent offenses in the country this season. In fact, IWU is ranked fifth in the NCAA Division III in goals per game with 20.57, sit third in ground balls per game with 51.93, fourth in assists with 170, and sixth in points per game 32.71.

BEST IN THE CCIW: Junior Rick Smith and senior Max Bousky were named the CCIW Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively, as the Titans swept the awards for the second time in conference history.
Smith, who also earned first team honors for the second time in his career, is the third Titan to be voted the league's Offensive Player of the Year. The Frankfort, Ill. product has 68 points on the year with 45 goals and 23 assists. Smith is ranked fourth nationally among active players nationally in points per game with 5.49
    Bousky is just the second Titan to be named the CCIW's Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, the Peoria, Ill. native earned first team honors for the second time in his IWU career. A powerhouse at the X, Bousky's .783 win percentage is ranked third-best nationally and his ground balls per game of 12.92 leads sits fourth in the country.

USILA Dynamic Team of the Week: Rick Smith, Daniel Dickerson, and Max Bousky have  been named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division III Dynamic Team of the Week throughout the season. Smith picked up this accolade on March 9, as Dickerson and Bousky earned the award March 16 and 30, respectively. The trio are the first in program history to garner spots on the national team of the week.

ALL-CCIW PICKS: Illinois Wesleyan saw a total of eight players selected to the All-CCIW teams. In addition to Rick Smith and Max Bousky, Will Harris, Carson Kiichle, and Connor Kiichle also earned First Team honors. Jory Vance, Daniel Dickerson, and Paul Mucci reeled in Second Team All-CCIW status.