Opening Weekend Takes Men’s Lacrosse to Memphis

Titans face Colorado College and Rhodes College

2/10/2022 2:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The anticipated return of the four-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament Champions is over as the 14th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team opens its 2022 season this weekend Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 12-13. The Titans hit the ground running with two tough opening games against No. 7 Colorado College, Feb. 12 at 2:30 p.m. and Rhodes College, Feb. 13 at 1:30 p.m. IWU will travel to the campus of Rhodes in Memphis, Tenn. for its two-game weekend.

After a historical 2021 run, the Titans ended their season 15-2 and 6-0 in the CCIW. Last season marked the fourth time the Titans secured the CCIW Tournament Champions and the third time the Green and White earned the regular season title.

Under the direction of ninth-year head coach Zach Iannucci, the Titans qualified for the Elite Eight for the first time in program history in 2021. Key returnee Rick Smith (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln Way East) and then senior Max Bousky were tabbed the CCIW Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively, as the Titans swept the awards for the second time in conference history. Including Smith, seniors Zac Taylor (Brighton, Mich.-Brighton) and Daniel Dickerson (Wheaton, Ill.-St. Francis College), and junior Blake Muschewske (Excelsior, Minn.-Holy Family Cath.) were named the 2022 team captains and lead an experienced list of returners along with 10 newcomers to the squad.

The Titans who were ranked No. 14 in the Nike/USA Preseason Lacrosse Top-20 Poll, the highest preseason ranking in program history, are joined by CC on the list at No. 7. An exciting Saturday matchup between IWU and Colorado College marks the first time in program history the two teams will face off. CC ended its 2021 campaign 13-4 and 4-0 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Tigers defeated Southwestern University in the SCAC Tournament, clinching a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Similar to the Titans, the Tigers made it through to the Elite Eight before suffering a 19-13 loss to defending NCAA Division III Champions, Rochester Institute of Technology.

After a quick turnaround, the Green and White move back into familiar territory going head-to-head with Rhodes the following day. The Lynx ended its 2021 campaign 5-4 overall and 4-1 in the Southern Athletic Association. RC saw its season come to a close after a loss in its conference championship game against Centre College, April 25.

A budding history between the Titans and Lynx dates back to the 2019 season when IWU first defeated RC, 12-7, in a regular season game, Feb. 17. That same year, the Titans' season ended at the hand of Rhodes in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 22-9 loss.

The all-time series sits at 2-2 between IWU and RC. Most recently, the Green and White defeated Rhodes, 16-12, March 14, 2021.

Both games will be available via livestream here and live stats here. Make sure to follow along with everything about men's lacrosse on Twitter (@iwu_mlax) and Instagram (iwumlax).

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