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Webster and Miller celebrating a goal against Calvin March 28, 2026
Kodiak Creative
9
Calvin CALVIN 7-2, 0-0
14
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 7-4, 0-0
Calvin CALVIN
7-2, 0-0
9
Final
14
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
7-4, 0-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Calvin CALVIN 2 3 0 4 9
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 5 2 3 4 14

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse |

Men’s Lacrosse Coasts Past Calvin

Titans enter CCIW play with 7-4 record

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team defeated Calvin University, 14-9, Saturday, March 28 at Tucci Stadium. Never trailing in the contest, IWU ups its record to 7-4, while the Knights slide to 7-2.

Sophomore Owen Miller (Brookfield, Wis.-Brookfield) and junior Timothy McHugh (Orland Park, Ill.-Mount Carmel) led IWU offensively, each finishing with five points. Miller's career-high five points came on three goals and two assists. Timothy McHugh led the Titans in goals with four, notching one assist. Sophomore Charlie Burghardt (Milwaukee, Wis.-Brookfield Central) tied for the team-high in assists with two. 

Seniors Karsten Nordlie (Roscoe, Ill.-Hononegah Community) and Billy McHugh (Orland Park, Ill.-Mount Carmel) each recorded a team-high six ground balls. Senior Michael Rocco (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) picked up three ground balls of his own while also leading the team at the X, going 12-of-14 in faceoffs. Sophomore Matt Arnold (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) split time with Rocco at the X, as he went 7-of-11 in faceoffs. Sophomore Jake Sline (Homewood, Ill.-Homewood-Flossmoor) and Billy McHugh tied for the team-lead in caused turnovers with four apiece. 

Sophomore Jaymeson Zackery (Saint Paul, Minn.-Eastview) spent 60 minutes in goal recording 10 saves. It marks the eighth time this season Zackery has recorded double-digit saves. Illinois Wesleyan recorded one save as a team. 

IWU got on the board early via back-to-back goals under 30 seconds apart. Zackery came through with a save, getting the Titans in a quick transition. Miller cracked the scoreboard first, as his goal put the home team out in front at the 12:42 mark. Following the first goal of the game, Rocco quickly won the ensuing faceoff and gave way to freshman Brody Jones (Boring, Ore.-West Linn), who sent a pass to sophomore Wyatt Hart (Littleton, Colo.-Valor Christian) for a goal, giving the Green and White a 2-0 lead with 12:15 remaining in the opening period.

Calvin cut the gap in half with a goal, but the rest of the period was all Illinois Wesleyan. Timothy McHugh got his impressive day started off of a Knight's turnover, as Miller intercepted a pass in the Titans' offensive zone. Miller then raced downfield and passed to Timothy McHugh, who net his first of four goals on the day to give the home team a 3-1 advantage. 

Timothy McHugh once again countered a Calvin goal, as he buried a pass from senior Cole Kennedy (Walnut Creek, Calif.-De La Salle). The Green and White stretched its lead to three thanks to a goal by sophomore Jeremy Langosch (Grayslake, Ill.-Warren Township). Langosch ripped a shot, set up off a pass from Nordlie with 2:30 left to play in the first. Facing fire in the last minute of the quarter, Zackery stopped two straight shots to close the first period of play, 5-2, in favor of the Titans.

A CU penalty to begin the second period led to Illinois Wesleyan capitalizing on a man-up opportunity. Zackery forced a turnover and drove the ball the length of the field, as he found Miller for a man-up goal, as the goalkeeper tallied the first assist and point of his career. The goal put the Titans ahead, 6-2, early into the second. 

Two straight Calvin goals cut IWU's lead in half, but Billy McHugh picked off a pass to set up the next goal. After the first shot of the possession went wide, Burghardt found freshman Holden Webster (Centennial, Colo.-Arapahoe), who sniped a shot past the Knights' goalkeeper to bring the score to 7-4 with 7:20 remaining until halftime. CU used a goal in the last minute of play to send the Titans into halftime ahead by two, 7-5.

The third quarter was all Illinois Wesleyan, beginning with Miller burying a pass from Burghardt at the 8:37 mark. Webster wrapped around the crease for his second goal of the game, and Timothy McHugh found Kennedy for a goal to give the home team a 10-5 advantage entering the last period. 

Three straight Calvin goals saw IWU's gap close to two, 10-8, with 8:58 remaining in the contest. After a faceoff violation gifted the Green and White possession, Miller found senior Kaden Gammelgaard (Lake Zurich, Ill.-Lake Zurich) crashing into the offensive zone. The long pole uncorked on a shot to the top of the net, ending the Knights run, and igniting a four-goal run for the Titans. 

Sline forced a Calvin turnover, and found Billy McHugh after scooping up the ground ball. Billy McHugh found his brother, Timothy McHugh, waiting at the net, as the two connected for a goal to make it 12-8. 

Goals by Webster and Timothy McHugh closed out the victory for the Titans, who would go on to win, 14-9.

Illinois Wesleyan wraps up non-conference play and will begin College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin action Saturday, April 4. IWU will host North Central College for a 4 p.m. bout at Tucci Stadium. The game will conclude a double header with the Titan women's lacrosse team, which will also take on NCC at 1 p.m.
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