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Maddie Gibson on offense cradling ball against Illinois Tech Feb. 21, 2026
Kodiak Creative
6
Ill. Wesleyan ILL. WES 2-2
21
Winner Lake Forest LFC 2-0
Ill. Wesleyan ILL. WES
2-2
6
Final
21
Lake Forest LFC
2-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Ill. Wesleyan ILL. WES 1 1 1 3 6
Lake Forest LFC 7 5 6 3 21

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse |

Women’s Lacrosse Falls at Lake Forest

Titans return home to take on Cornell Wednesday, March 4

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Amid its first road contest of the 2026 season, the Illinois Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team fell to Lake Forest College, 21-6, Saturday, Feb. 28. The defeat drops the Titans to 2-2 on the season, while LFC opens its 2026 campaign 1-0.

Sophomore Maddie Gibson (Fenton, Mo.-Rockwood Summit) led the offense with four points, including a career-high three assists. Senior Anelise DiGiovanni (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport Township) and sophomore Lillie Keeton (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) each tallied two points. DiGiovanni recorded one goal and an assist, while Keeton's points both came by way of goals.

At the draw, seniors Sarah Riepe (Aurora, Ill.-St. Francis) and Sadie Newton (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) finished with four apiece. DiGiovanni scooped up a career-best five ground balls, the most by a Titan in the game, followed by three from Newton. Newton also led the defense, finishing with four caused turnovers, tying her career-high. 

In goal for the Green and White, sophomore Marli Brown (Kansas City, Mo.-Notre Dame de Sion) logged the first 30 minutes, making eight saves on a .400 save percentage, and was tagged with the loss. Checking in for the second half, freshman Allison Vervynck (Overland Park, Kan.-Saint Thomas Aquinas) recorded a career-high six saves, also finishing with a .400 save percentage. 

Illinois Wesleyan cracked the scoreboard first, as DiGiovanni dished a pass to sophomore Soleil Gutierrez (Glendale Heights, Ill.-Glenbard North), who was crashing towards the net, and scored her first career goal. 

Newton won a draw as time dwindled down in the second period, and Gibson buried a shot with time expiring to end the first half, 12-2, in favor of the Foresters.

Vervynck checked in between the pipes to begin the second half, and immediately made a save. The freshman goalkeeper comes through with another stop, setting up the Green and White in transition. After racing across the field, Gibson found Keeton driving towards the net for a goal, putting IWU on the board first in the third quarter, 12-3, with 12:14 remaining on the clock.

The Green and White won the draw to open the fourth quarter, and made quick work of the offensive opportunity. Following a LFC green card, Gibson hit Keeton up for another goal, capitalizing on the woman-up chance, to bring the score to 18-4.

After a few scoreless minutes, the Titan defense forced a failed clear attempt. Newton made the Foresters pay for the mistake, as she buried a pass from Gibson for her first goal of the game, making it 18-5 with 11:48 remaining in the game. 

Lake Forest responded with two straight goals, but Newton caused a turnover to set up IWU's offense. Driving with the ball, DiGiovanni ripped off a shot for a goal, bringing the score to 20-6 with 5:12 to go. 

Illinois Wesleyan was unable to get any closer, falling 21-6 on the road. 

The Titans return home to take on Cornell College Wednesday, March 4. Action is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. inside Tucci Stadium.
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