BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – A big third quarter lifted the Illinois Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team to a 14-10 win over Aurora University in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament Wednesday afternoon, May 8, at Tucci Stadium. IWU (14-3) advances to the second round of the national tournament, where the Titans will square off against Tufts University in game one of the Schenectady, NY pod hosted by Union University.

Senior Gage Black (Peoria, Ill.-Dunlap) broke the stalemate with a man-up goal off an assist from senior Trystan Seeley (Castle Rock, Colo.-Castle View) before senior Brendan Baumgarten (Peoria, Ill.-Dunlap) landed his fourth goal of the season, unassisted, with under eight minutes left to play in the first to put the Green and White up 2-0. After a key save by junior Nick Horrocks (Boulder, Colo.-Fairview) and an extra-diving effort by senior Alex Oximana (Seattle, Wash.-Bishop Blanchet), Black ripped a long shot through two defenders to put IWU up 3-1 to end the quarter. 

Carrying the momentum into the second quarter, quick ball movement from junior Jake Gisi (Wentzville, Mo.-Chaminade College Prep) to junior Sam Weinberg (Highwood, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) gave IWU the 4-1 advantage just 15 seconds in as Weinberg net his 28th goal of the season. The Spartans got a pair back to bring the score within one with under 10 minutes to play in the half. A crucial save by a backpedaling Oximana held off Aurora's tying goal, but the Spartans recovered with another attack to level the board at 4-all.

Senior Logan Gelling (St. Michael, Minn.-Benilde St. Margaret's) looped a pass up high to senior Ike Eastburn (Colorado Springs, Colo.-Cheyenne Mountain) in prime position for a sharp shot to regain the lead but a Spartan goal three minutes later would bring the score even at 5-all.

Black battled head-to-head with a defender before finding Seeley open for the goal to put IWU ahead 6-5. Not even a minute later, junior Sam Skelton (Portland, Ore.-Franklin) scored off a Weinberg helper. Eastburn notched the Titans' third straight goal in the third quarter to move IWU ahead 8-5. A pass by freshman Timothy McHugh (Orland Park, Ill.-Mount Carmel) from behind the net found Weinberg open out front with enough room to rip a low goal to move up 9-5. Eastburn doubled the score at 10-5 after snagging a high pass from sophomore Noah Dretzka (Delafield, Wis.-Kettle Moraine) just outside the crease and delivering the goal. IWU carried a 12-5 advantage into the final quarter after goals by Weinberg and Black extended the Titan lead. 

Aurora opened the fourth quarter with a five-goal run when the Spartans pulled their goalie out to defend, Seeley found the open net to break up the run and maintain the 13-10 lead. Weinberg came back with under a minute left to play for a goal to give IWU the four-point cushion. 

Weinberg led all players with six points on a team-best four goals along with two assists. Black finished with four points by way of a trio of goals and a helper, while Seeley and Eastburn each notched three points apiece. Seeley's came on a hat trick, while Eastburn posted two goals and an assist. 

At the X, sophomore Michael Rocco (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) tied his career-best with 16 faceoff wins, as he went an impressive 16-of-22 on the day to lead the Green and White, as well as tying his career-high of eight ground balls. Senior Zo Lombardo (Elgin, Ill.-Saint Viator) added two wins on six faceoffs for the Titans. 

Senior Ethan Hart (Littleton, Colo.-J.K. Mullen) scooped up a team-best 10 ground balls to smash his previous career-high. Following Rocco's eight, Weinberg finished with seven to round out the top-three for IWU. Hart also led the defensive end, as he tied for a team-high three caused turnovers alongside sophomore Kade Miers (Cincinnati, Ohio-St. Xavier). Skelton, and fellow junior Tyler Crawford (Cary, Ill.-Prairie Ridge) each caused two miscues from the Spartans. 

Playing the second half, junior Colin Tervo (West Linn, Ore.-West Linn) picked up his 13th win, the third-most in a season in program history. In 30 minutes of action, Tervo made three saves. Oximana added five saves in the first 30 minutes while scooping up one ground ball. 

Illinois Wesleyan will travel to Schenectady, NY, to face Tufts at 12 p.m. ET Saturday, May 11. Action is set to be played on Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium. Information regarding the weekend's slate can be found on the men's lacrosse schedule on iwusports.com.

Postgame Press Conference