BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The top-seeded Illinois Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team was stunned by fourth-seeded Transylvania University, 18-16, in the semifinal round of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament Friday night, May 6, at Tucci Stadium. 

 

The Titans ran out to a four-goal lead as juniors Connor Kiichle (Vancouver, Wash.-Skyview) and Carson Kiichle (Vancouver, Wash.-Skyview), senior Rick Smith (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East), and sophomore Trystan Seeley (Castle Rock, Colo.-Castle View) scored to give IWU a 5-1 cushion with 5:20 to play in the opening quarter.
 

Transy came roaring back with a three-goal run, including two in the final minute of the period by Bryce Lowe to trim the Titan lead to one, 5-4. 
 

The Green and White scored three in-a-row to start the second, as senior Malcolm Hedgepeth (Houston, Texas-The Kinkaid School), Seeley, and senior Griffin DeMilt (Toledo, Ohio-Ottawa Hills) returned IWU's lead to four once again, 8-4. 
 

After three unanswered goals by the Pioneers, Connor Kiichle's goal gave IWU a 9-7 lead at halftime. 
 

Transy held the upper hand in the second half through, as the Pioneers outscored the Titans 7-4 in the third quarter to take a 14-13 lead into the final 15. 
 

IWU battled back to reclaim the lead early on in the fourth, as Connor Kiichle found Smith to tie the score at 14. Seeley then buried a shot to give Illinois Wesleyan a 15-14 lead, but Transy scored twice in a six-second span to move back on top, 16-15. 
 

Connor Kiichle scored on a goal from DeMilt to knot the score at 16 with 8:45 to play, but the score proved to be the last of the night for the Green and White. Transy responded with a goal less than a minute later to claim a 17-16 advantage before adding an insurance goal with 54 seconds left.
 

The Titans put together several opportunities in the final minutes, but could not capitalize as IWU fell, 18-16.
 

Connor Kiichle finished with a team-high seven points, tying Seeley for the team-high with four goals, while also tallying three assists. Seeley's four goals were a career-high for the sophomore. Smith finished with a hat trick and Carson Kiichle notched two goals and two assists for four points. DeMilt also finished with four points, credited to his goal and trio of helpers. 
 

Senior Zac Taylor (Brighton, Mich.-Brighton) finished 22-for-35 at the X with 11 ground balls. Senior Cole Harden (Terrace Park, Ohio-Mariemont) notched a team-best three caused turnovers, while fellow senior Daniel Dickerson (Wheaton, Ill.-St. Francis) tallied four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
 

IWU now awaits its postseason fate, which the Titans will learn Sunday, May 8, as part of the NCAA selection show.