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Andrew Ortega records a career-high
© AshtinElder
8
Benedictine BENUM 0-2
24
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 1-2
Benedictine BENUM
0-2
8
Final
24
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
1-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Benedictine BENUM 1 3 1 3 8
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 8 9 5 2 24

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse |

Men’s Lacrosse Overpowers Benedictine in Home Opener

Titans grab first win of the season

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team ran away with a 24-8 win over Benedictine University in its home opener at Tucci Stadium Wednesday night, Feb. 28. The Titans moved to 1-2 on the season, while the Eagles dropped to 0-2.

Illinois Wesleyan's offense was led by a career-best outing for sophomore Andrew Ortega's (Austin, Texas-Westlake) nine points off six goals and three assists. Senior Gage Black (Peoria, Ill.-Dunlap) finished second on the team in scoring with seven points, breaking his career-high, via three goals and a career-best four assists. Freshman Timothy McHugh (Orland Park, Ill.-Mount Carmel) and sophomore Noah Dretzka (Delafield, Wis.-Kettle Moraine) both posted five points. 

On the defensive side, junior Nick Horrocks (Boulder, Colo.-Fairview) caused a team-high three turnovers, with sophomores Kaden Gammelgard (Lake Zurich, Ill.-Lake Zurich) and Kade Miers (Cincinnati, Ohio-St. Xavier) and senior Michael Campagna (Arlington Heights, Saint Viator) tallying two apiece. McHugh scooped up a team-high nine ground balls, with junior John Kittoe (Waunakee, Wis.-Waunakee), Black, senior Zo Lombardo (Elgin, Ill.-Saint Viator), and Campagna adding four each.

At the X, Lombardo went 16-for-23. Sophomore Michael Rocco (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) finished 5-for-11. Junior Colin Tervo (West Linn, Ore.-West Linn) made seven saves in one half of play, while senior Alex Oximana (Seattle, Wash.-Bishop Blanchet) added nine. Junior Segen Chambers (Chico, Calif.-Jesuit) was credited with one save.

The Green and White scored the game's first six goals and never looked back. Ortega opened the scoring just 38 seconds in, before seniors Ike Eastburn (Colorado Springs, Colo.-Cheyenne Mountain) and Trystan Seeley (Castle Rock, Colo.-Castle View) piled on goals. McHugh assisted on a goal from junior Sam Skelton (Portland, Ore.-Franklin) to stretch the lead to 4-0. 

The six-goal run ended with scores from junior Jake Gisi (Wentzville, Mo.-Chaminade College Prep) and Eastburn off assists from Kittoe and Ortega. Benedictine broke the streak with a goal, but Ortega scored twice more before the end of the period to propel IWU ahead, 8-1.

Illinois Wesleyan scored the first four goals of the second period to balloon their lead to double digits, 12-1.

IWU struck twice more in the final 30 seconds of the half as Black found Dretzka for a goal before Dretzka assisted on an Ortega goal 20 seconds later.

Leading 17-4 into the third, the Titans continued to roll in the second half. The Green and White led by as many as 17 en route to the victory.

The Titans remain at home this Saturday, March 2, for a battle against Aurora University. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Tucci Stadium.

 
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