BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team picked up its fourth straight win Wednesday night, April 3, at a blustery Tucci Stadium as the Titans took down the University of Dubuque, 16-11. With the win, IWU jumped to 6-4 on the season, while UD dipped to 6-5.

Seniors Gage Black (Peoria, Ill.-Dunlap) and Ike Eastburn (Colorado Springs, Colo.-Cheyenne Mountain) along with sophomore Noah Dretzka (Delafield, Wis.-Kettle Moraine) powered a balanced attack for the Titans. Black went for a team-high six points on four goals and two assists, while Eastburn tied him for the team lead in goals. Dretzka tallied two goals and dished out a team-best three assists, while six others notched points.

Senior Michael Campagna (Arlington Heights, Ill.-St. Viator) captained the defensive effort, forcing five turnovers to lead the team. He also picked up seven ground balls to tie senior Zo Lombardo (Elgin, Ill.-St. Viator) for the team lead. Lombardo finished the night 15-of-27 at the X. Junior Colin Tervo (West Linn, Ore.-West Linn) corralled nine saves on the night.

Black and Eastburn scored two goals apiece to lift IWU to a 4-1 lead early on in the second quarter, but UD notched back-to-back goals to pull within one, 4-3, with 7:26 left in the half.

Sophomore Kaden Gammelgaard (Lake Zurich, Ill.-Lake Zurich) inched Illinois Wesleyan back ahead with a goal two minutes later, but Dubuque responded to keep the game at a one-goal differential.

Retaining possession after a wide shot, Dretzka found Eastburn for a goal with 2:20 on the clock. The goal proved to be a spark for the Green and White, as Black buried a shot into the back of the net 35 seconds later to force a UD timeout with 1:44 left in the half.

Out of the regrouping session, Dretzka connected with Black for a goal before Black returned the favor with an assist on Dretzka's score to push IWU ahead, 9-4, into halftime.

The Spartans scored the first goal of the second half, trimming the Illinois Wesleyan advantage to four at the 9:02 mark of the third period.

UD scored again a bit later, but Sam Weinberg (Highwood, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) scooped up a ground ball and quickly went on the attack. Faking as if he was going to pass, Weinberg fired a long-distance shot inside the far post to reclaim a 10-6 advantage.

After a barrage of penalties on UD, the Green and White took full advantage as Dretzka and Black teamed up once again. Black flipped a pass to Dretzka, who scored his second goal of the night to make the score 11-6 in favor of IWU.

Junior Jake Gisi (Wentzville, Mo.-Chaminade College Prep) scooped up a loose ball and buried a shot to double up the Spartans, 12-6, with 3:13 to play in the third quarter.

Illinois Wesleyan extended the lead one more before the end of the third period as senior Trystan Seeley (Castle Rock, Colo.-Castle View) shouldered off a few defenders before notching a goal. Dubuque beat the buzzer with a goal, but the Titans took a 13-7 lead into the final quarter.

The Green and White stretched its lead to eight, 16-8, on a goal by junior Nick Horrocks (Boulder, Colo.-Fairview), but the Spartans scored three times in the final 5:12 as Illinois Wesleyan won 16-11.

The Titans remain at home this Saturday, April 6, for their College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener against Augustana College. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Tucci Stadium and will serve as part of IWU's annual St. Jude weekend. Illinois Wesleyan athletics will hold 50/50 raffles at the men's lacrosse, softball, and baseball games taking place over the weekend, while t-shirts will also be available for purchase.