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Titans celebrating a Vander Kooi goal April 29, 2026
ASHTIN ELDER PHOTO
19
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 11-6
6
Carthage CARTHAGE 9-9
Winner
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
11-6
19
Final
6
Carthage CARTHAGE
9-9
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 8 3 5 3 19
Carthage CARTHAGE 0 2 3 1 6

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse |

Men’s Lacrosse Flies Past Firebirds in CCIW Semis

Titans advance to fourth straight CCIW Tournament title game

KENOSHA, Wis. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team will play in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament Championship for the ninth time in 10 years following a 19-6 dismantling of Carthage College Wednesday night, April 29, at Art Keller Field. The Titans jump to 11-6 on the season and earn a rematch with No. 1 seeded Elmhurst University in the CCIW Tournament Championship Saturday, May 2. Carthage closes the year at 9-9. 

Sophomore Jack Vander Kooi (Buffalo, Minn.-Buffalo) put together a career day, finishing with a game-high six goals alongside an assist for a career-best seven points. Sophomore Jeremy Langosch (Grayslake, Ill.-Warren Township) and junior Timothy McHugh (Orland Park, Ill.-Mount Carmel) posted four points apiece. Langosch's all came via goals, while McHugh led the team with three assists with one goal. 

The Green and White were absolutely dominant at the X, as IWU lost just four faceoffs on the night. Senior Michael Rocco (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) went 12-for-13, while sophomore Matt Arnold (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) was not far behind at 11-of-13. Sophomore Jake Sline (Homewood, Ill.-Homewood-Flossmoor) won two of his three faceoff attempts. 

Seniors Billy McHugh (Orland Park, Ill.-Mount Carmel) and Karsten Nordlie (Roscoe, Ill.-Hononegah Community) powered the defense. McHugh forced a team-leading three turnovers, while Nordlie scooped up 10 ground balls and caused two miscues. Rocco followed closely with nine scoops.

Sophomore Jaymeson Zackery (Saint Paul, Minn.-Eastview) grabbed the win in goal, making eight saves on a .615 clip. Senior Sam Scott (Worthington, Ohio-Thomas Worthington) made three stops with a .750 save percentage as the duo split time between the pipes. 

Illinois Wesleyan came out on a terror to take control from the jump. Feeding off the energy from a penalty kill, junior Jake Kahoun (Worthington, Ohio-Thomas Worthington) buried the game's first goal. Langosch made it two-nothing moments later after a timely stop by Zackery before Vander Kooi notched the first goal of what ultimately turned into a big game for the sophomore. 

Leading 4-0 after Vander Kooi's second goal of the night, Billy McHugh forced a turnover at midfield and IWU hit the gas in transition. Once again finding the ball in his stick, Vander Kooi hit senior Mitchell Breza (Victoria, Minn.-Chanhassen) with a pass to set up the first goal of Breza's career. The score pushed the Titans ahead 5-0 into a Firebird timeout. 

The Green and White closed the period with three more goals to climb ahead 8-0 after 15 minutes of action. Langosch unleashed one on a break and Billy McHugh bulldozed the Carthage defense, creating space to dish to Vander Kooi for a 7-0 advantage. Langosch capped off the quarter with another goal, this time wrapping around the crease and shaking off a defender before firing past CC's goalie.

IWU's run moved to nine straight goals just over three minutes into the second period. Timothy McHugh scooped up a ground ball after a Firebird turnover to kickstart the goal-scoring opportunity. Eventually, senior Cole Kennedy (Walnut Creek, Calif.-De La Salle) dished to Vander Kooi for a 9-0 lead.

Carthage stopped the run with two straight goals, but junior Nate Pound (Theinsville, Wis.-Homestead) punished the home team to swing things back in favor of the Titans. After being denied on his initial shot attempt, Pound powered a rebounded shot into the back of the net. Vander Kooi tacked on another goal, his fifth of the night, with 1:40 left in the half to send IWU into the break with an 11-2 cushion.

Refusing to let history repeat itself as a halftime lead slipped away in the regular season meeting between the two squads, the Titans were relentless in the second half. Timothy McHugh uncorked a goal for a double-digit lead and IWU never looked back. Sophomore Owen Miller (Brookfield, Wis.-Brookfield Central), Sline, Pound, senior Noah Dretzka (Delafield, Wis.-Kettle Moraine), Billy McHugh, Vander Kooi, and Langosh added goals to round out the scoring as the Green and White grabbed a 19-6 victory.

Illinois Wesleyan will travel to the suburbs for the CCIW Tournament Championship Saturday, May 2. The Titans will square off with top-seeded Elmhurst University at Langhorst Field for the second time in seven days, this time with the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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