Men’s Lacrosse Cages the Cougars

RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The CUW men's lacrosse team traveled down to Illinois on Friday and picked up a key NACC victory with a 21-4 victory to improve to 4-5 on the year and 2-1 in the NACC.

The Cougars struck first on Friday, but it would be all Falcons the rest of the first half.

The Blue and White responded 31 seconds after the CUW goal with a shot from senior Donovan Harper (Yorba Linda, Calif.) off a pass from senior Keijo Day (Esko, Minn.).

Freshman Caleb Ruger (Grafton, Wis.) gave the Falcons the lead two minutes later off an assist from Donovan Harper.

Keijo Day took advantage of a man-up advantage to push the lead up to 3-1.

Donovan Harper closed the scoring in the first quarter with 29 seconds left.

The Falcons poured onto the lead with four more goals in the second quarter. CUW landed goals from Donovan Harper, senior Chris Smith (South Elgin, Ill.), and sophomore Jack Gromosky (Danville, Ind.).

CUW held onto an 8-1 lead at halftime.

The second half started with a goal from Donovan Harper 62 seconds into the third quarter.

CUW scored again 10 seconds later off the stick of Adam Verner.

Jack Gromosky found the back of the net again in the third quarter.

Connor Peterson scored again on the man-up advantage off a pass from Keijo Day.

Freshman Adam Verner (Portage, Mich.) scored with 91 seconds left in the third quarter.

Donovan Harper scored on a man-up advantage before Concordia Chicago snapped a 14-goal run for the Falcons.

Freshman Flynn Spano (St. Louis Park, Minn.) secured his first goal 11 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Caleb Ruger scored on a man-up advantage with 6:36 remaining.

Sophomore Matthew Sierzega (Grayslake, Ill.) sank a shot for his first collegiate goal in the back of the net off a pass from sophomore Noah Schulz (Onalaska, Wis.). He then scored again a minute later.

Donovan Harper and freshman Dylan Loftus (Chicago, Ill.) both scored on a man-up advantage and Loftus finished the scoring with the 21^st goal of the afternoon. The goals are the first of the career for Loftus.

Senior Alex Loding (Mundelein, Ill.) secured seven saves in the victory.

The Falcons cleared all 19 clear opportunities on Friday.

CUW collected 51 ground balls against the Cougars, with sophomore Noah Brandt (Owatonna, Minn.) and Donovan Harper.

The 21 goals are the most for the Falcons since a 21-3 victory over Cornell on April 27, 2019.