Falcons Cook Cougars in Fifth-Straight Conference Victory

RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The CUW men's lacrosse team extended their win streak to five with a 14-6 victory over the Cougars of Concordia Chicago on Saturday afternoon.  They move to 9-3 on the season.

The Falcons came out hot with the first four goals of the matchup. Sophomore Max Esposito (Gaithersburg, Md.) found the back of the net first with an assist from junior Caleb Ruger (Grafton, Wis.). 44 seconds later, freshman Jason Michalski (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) found the back of the net with an assist from junior Flynn Spano (St. Louis Park, Minn.).

Senior Matthew Sierzega (Grayslake, Ill.) netted his first goal of the game with 5:20 left in the first quarter. He was assisted by Esposito who found the back of the net for the fourth Falcon goal just over two minutes later.

The Cougars scored their only two goals of the quarter in 36 seconds.

Esposito claimed a hat trick in the first quarter with another goal. This goal was assisted by senior Noah Brandt (Owatonna, Minn.).

With 18 seconds left on the clock, sophomore Gio Nowotarski (Reading, Pa.) found the back of the net for the sixth Falcon goal of the quarter off an assist from junior Isaac Ober (Huntley, Ill.).

The second quarter saw the Cougars score first.

Ruger opened the Falcon scoring with a goal off an assist from Michalski. Nowotarski found the back of the net again with an assist coming from sophomore Pat Ryan (Western Springs, Ill.).

The Cougars scored their fourth goal of the game with just under five and a half minutes left in the half.

Nowotarski got his hat trick with a goal on a man-up opportunity off an assist from Esposito.

The Blue and White held the 9-4 advantage into the second half.

It was all Falcons in the third quarter with five straight goals to take a 14-4 lead heading into the final frame.

Senior Jack Gromosky (Danville, Ind.) recorded his first point with 10:10 remaining in the quarter. 

Esposito scored once again with another assist from Ruger for the Falcons' 11th goal. 

Michalski, Sierzega, and Nowotarski added goals for the flock in the remaining 7:30 of the third quarter. 

Esposito and sophomore Griffin Bahr (Grand Rapids, Minn.) recorded assists in the onslaught.

The Cougars scored two man-up goals in the fourth quarter.

Esposito led the offense with four goals and three assists. He broke the single-season record for assists in a season. He sits with 41 after his three today. The previous mark was set at 39 in 2017.

The Falcons will take on the Hanover Panthers in a make-up game on Sunday afternoon at Fitting Field.