Men's Lacrosse downs Carthage, clinches home MLC Tournament game

KENOSHA, Wis. – A four-goal second period proved to be the difference for the Concordia University Wisconsin Men's Lacrosse team in a 9-5 win over Carthage College Wednesday night. With the win, the Falcons clinched the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference Tournament and will host a first round game next Wednesday.

Junior Matt Larsen (Gurnee, Ill.) netted three goals, including a man-up score to lead the Falcons. Larsen's man-up tally came 55 seconds into the deciding second period as CUW used a 4-0 edge to take a 6-3 lead into halftime.

Sophomore Thomas Mueller (Prior Lake, Minn.) tied a career-high with 15 saves in an impressive effort the Falcons. CUW was outshot 40-28, including 20-19 in shots on goal, but Mueller's edge at the goalie position helped the Falcons gain the key MLC victory.

After a first 15 minutes that saw Carthage build a 3-2 edge, the Falcons got on a roll in the second. Following Larsen's second-period opening goal, senior Justin Krause (Hartland, Wis.) scored unassisted to give CUW a 4-3 advantage. Senior Sam Wladyka (Winnipeg, Manitoba) scored his second goal of the game with 5:32 remaining in the half on an assist from senior Danny Dahms (Calgary, Alberta), while senior Peter Morton (Albany, Ga.) added a goal with just 28 seconds left in the second for a 6-3 halftime lead. CUW outshot Carthage, 12-3, in the second.

The Falcons would extend their lead to 7-3 with 10:16 remaining in the third on a goal from freshman Colin Raley (Inverness, Ill.), assisted by Morton. Carthage broke a 31:37 scoreless stretch with a Jared Ferrell goal (2:46 remaining in the third) and then cut the Falcons lead to 7-5 on a goal 1:34 later to trim the margin to two.

CUW quickly answered the mini-run by Carthage with an unassisted goal from senior Kyle Burrell (Calgary, Alberta). Burrell scored with 56 seconds remaining in the third and Larsen added his third goal of the game 32 seconds into the final period for the 9-5 victory.

Dahms finished with a game-high three assists for the Falcons. Sophomore Danny Bundra (Lake Zurich, Ill.) won 8-of-15 faceoffs for CUW. The Falcons also held a slight edge in man-up goals, scoring on 2-of-5 compared to 1-of-4 for Carthage.

The home playoff game will be the first ever for CUW. The Falcons began Men's Lacrosse in 2011 and will be a part of the MLC Tournament for the second time, also appearing in 2012. The Falcons will host Carthage in that game.

CUW (13-3, 8-1 MLC) will close out the regular season at home against Defiance College Saturday. The Falcons and Yellow Jackets are set for a 1:00 p.m. start.