Falcons Level Lumberjacks

MEQUON, Wis. – The CUW men's lacrosse team competed in their first competition in just under two weeks with a matchup against the Northland Lumberjacks on Sunday afternoon.

The Falcons got off to a hot start with a 4-2 lead heading into the first break.

Sophomore Max Esposito (Gaithersburg, Md.) got the ball rolling with a goal just under two minutes into the game with an assist from junior Caleb Ruger (Grafton, Wis.).

The Lumberjacks tied the matchup at one two minutes later.

50 seconds later, senior Matthew Sierzega (Grayslake, Ill.) took back the lead on an unassisted goal. 

Sophomore Gio Nowotarski (Reading, Pa.) netted his first goal of the game to give the Blue and White the 3-1 lead. 

Ruger found senior Joseph Petersen (Saukville, Wis.) for the fourth Falcon goal.

Northland scored their second to end the first quarter.

The Lumberjacks scored their third goal to open the second quarter.

Ruger netted what would end up being the game-winning goal just over two minutes into the second quarter off an assist from Esposito. Sophomore Chase Drexler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) found the back of the net for his first goal of the 2023 season off an assist from freshman Connor Quill (Schaumburg, Ill.) just 18 seconds after Ruger's goal.

A pair of man-up goals gave the Falcons the 8-3 lead just over halfway through the second quarter. 

Nowotarski netted the first with the assist going to freshman Preston Meier (Owatonna, Minn.) and Ruger netted the second with an assist from Esposito.  

Esposito was involved in the next two goals with an assist on the first with Nowotarski scoring the goal and a goal with an assist from sophomore Pat Ryan (Western Springs, Ill.).

The Lumberjacks scored their last goal on a man-up opportunity at the 4:46 mark in the second quarter.

Pat Ryan closed the quarter with a goal off an assist from Chase Drexler with two seconds remaining in the half.

The Blue and White led 11-4 heading into halftime.

The second half was all Falcons with the defense standing tall and not allowing another goal from the Lumberjacks.

Nowotarski recorded assists on the next two goals with the first coming from senior Jack Gromosky (Danville, Ind.) and the second from freshman Jason Michalski (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) to give the birds the 13-4 lead. Ruger netted another goal with 15 seconds left in the third quarter off an assist from Meier to lead by 10 heading into the final frame.

Meier netted the first of two goals in the fourth quarter and freshman Frank Trewyn (Mukwonago, Wis.) netted the first goal of his collegiate career to give the Falcons the 16-4 victory.

Senior Noah Brandt (Owatonna, Minn.) finished 10-14 from the faceoff circle with Trewyn going 6-10.

The Blue and White were 16-18 in clear attempts and picked up a total of 56 ground balls.

Three Falcons finished with five points on the afternoon. Ruger and Nowotarski recorded hat tricks with a pair of assists and Esposito netted two goals and assisted on three more.

The Falcons continue their home stand with a matchup against Kalamazoo on Saturday.