Falcons Fight Hard, Come Up Short in NACC Title Game

MONTGOMERY, Ill. - The Concordia Wisconsin men's lacrosse team fell just shy of a conference title on Saturday afternoon, dropping to the Aurora Spartans in the NACC championship game. The runner-up finish represented Concordia's best placing in the tournament since the team's 2019 championship run.

The Falcons struck early to begin the game, as freshman Tyler Husby (Eagan, Minn.) took responsibility for the first score of the game just 56 seconds after the opening faceoff. The scoreboard was only adjusted once more in the quarter, as Aurora squared up the game at one midway through the period.

The Spartans were able to assemble a scoring run in the second quarter, rattling off four consecutive goals to take a 5-1 lead. With just under four minutes remaining in the half, the Falcons broke the scoring run by way of a goal from junior Max Esposito (Gaithersburg, Md.). Esposito cut into the lead once more before the break, finding the back of the net with nine seconds remaining on the clock.

Entering the second half, Aurora managed to create further separation on the scoreboard, expanding its lead to six scores. Junior Gio Nowotarski (Reading, Pa.) interrupted the scoring run with a goal for the Falcons, and Esposito went on to notch his third tally of the game later in the frame. As the final 15 minutes of play approached, the Spartans were left with eight goals in hand.

Concordia cut into the deficit to open the closing quarter of play, assembling a stretch of three consecutive goals. Nowotarski, senior Caleb Ruger (Grafton, Wis.), and Esposito represented the Falcons' scoring trio, trimming Aurora's advantage to five in just 2:18. The Spartans earned the goals back in the minutes that followed, but Concordia scored twice to lessen the margin once more. Nowotarski reached the three-goal mark for the seventh time in the 2024 season as part of the stretch before freshman Bryce Peterson (Waukesha, Wis.) found the team's final score of the day. Senior Flynn Spano (St. Louis Park, Minn.) recorded an assist on the goal to mark his third helper of the season. Aurora notched one final goal to close the contest, which concluded with a 17-10 reading on the scoreboard in favor of the Spartans.

Freshman goaltender Travis Marquardt (Brookfield, Wis.) recorded 17 saves in the contest.

Max Esposito, freshman Jaxon Hill (Bismarck, N.D.) and senior Parker Beaudry (Sherwood Park, Alberta) were named to the NACC Men's Lacrosse All-Tournament Team.

In addition to securing its best postseason finish in five seasons, Concordia wrapped up the season with an overall record of 13-6 and a 7-1 mark in conference play, both of which represent the team's best totals since 2019.