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MLAX Regional Win
14
Hope HOPE 13-2
18
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 15-1
Hope HOPE
13-2
14
Final
18
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
15-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Hope HOPE 4 4 3 3 14
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 4 7 4 3 18

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse |

Titans Punch Ticket to Elite Eight with 18-14 Win Over Hope

IWU will make its first Elite Eight appearance in program history

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team made history with an 18-14 win over Hope College Saturday, May 15 to advance to the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Elite Eight for the first time in program history. The Titans advanced to 15-1 on the year and tied the program's longest winning streak with its 12th straight win.Hope ends its NCAA Tournament run and season with an overall 13-2 record. 

On defense, sophomore Blake Muschewske (Exelsior, Minn.-Holy Family Catholic) caused a game-high four turnovers and five ground balls. Seniors Jory Vance (Milwaukee, Wis.-Wauwatosa East) and Jesse Prettner (Minneapolis, Minn.-Edina), and junior Daniel Dickerson (Wheaton, Ill.-St. Francis College Prep) followed closely behind with two caused turnovers each. Prettner, hopped on the attack with two goals and Vance and Dickerson scored one apiece. 

Senior goalie Will Harris (Bloomington, Minn.-Holy Angels) came up big between the posts, recording a total of 11 saves, a caused turnover, six ground balls, and added an assist on one of Prettner's goals.

Juniors Griffin DeMilt (Toledo, Ohio.-Ottawa Hills) and Jaxon Hendrickson (British Columbia, Can.-Westtown) led the offensive output for the Titans with three points. DeMilt put up two goals and one assist, while Hendrickson recorded a hat trick against the Flying Dutchmen. 

A tight first quarter saw IWU and Hope score four goals each. Jory Vance scored the Titans fourth goal of the game, fueled by a caused turnover by Muschewske, to put the Titans up 4-2. With under four minutes to go, the Flying Dutchmen notched their third and fourth goal of the day to tie the game at 4-4, ending the first quarter. 

A powerful attack paired with a dominating defense led the Titans to a strong second quarter. IWU went up 5-4 but it was followed with a Hope goal to tie the game for the last time of night at 5-5. Junior Charles Hildestad (Carlock, Ill.-St. Viator) kicked off a four-goal run for the Titans to take back the lead, 9-5. The Titans defense held Hope to one goal before back-to-back goals from Connor Kiichle (Vancouver, Wash.-Skyview) and Hendrickson forced a Flying Dutchman timeout with Illinois Wesleyan in control, 11-6. Hope put up two late goals in the quarter to end the half 11-8 for the Titans. 

IWU led by three to start the second half as Carson Kiichle (Vancouver, Wash.-Skyview) opened the scoring which was followed by two additional Titan goals to widen the lead to six, 14-8. Hope net three additional goals to IWU's one, with seven minutes remaining in the period. Though, the deficit was too much as the Titans held a 15-11 advantage with one quarter to go.

In a balanced fourth quarter, the two teams went back and forth. Harris made four saves to Hope's two to preserve the 18-14 victory and punch IWU through to the Elite Eight.

The Titans will travel to Sailsbury, Md. for their quarterfinals match up Saturday, May 22. There, IWU will play the winner of tomorrow's regional final game between No. 2 Sailsbury and 2019 defending champions No. 5 Cabrini.
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