Contact: Matthew Eaker, Sports Information Graduate Assistant,
mreaker@noctrl.edu
LISLE, Ill. (May 8, 2022) - The North Central College men's lacrosse team battled with Transylvania University in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Championship and took down the Pioneers 11-10, claiming the program's first ever CCIW Championship and first ever bid into the NCAA Tournament.
The Pioneers (11-6) knocked off the top seed Illinois Wesleyan University Titans on Friday to make their first appearance in the conference final since joining the CCIW this season. The Cardinals (9-7) made their second consecutive trip to the conference final and looked to seal the deal against a tough Pioneers team.
The Pioneers jumped out to an early one goal lead but the quarter would stay at a standstill and would end with a 1-0 Pioneers lead. Tom Eberhardt would tie the game at one off an assist from Luke Illgen with 12 minutes remaining in the half. However, the Pioneers would get two quick goals from Dalton Hubbs to put the Pioneers up 3-1 with just under eight minutes left in the quarter. The Cardinals would end the half with goals from Nick Rubino and Jack Moran to tie the game at three.
The Cardinals came out firing in the second half as Eberhardt scored off an assist from Moran before Rubino would net the Cardinals fifth goal of the game with 12:19 remaining in the third quarter. The Pioneers would cut the lead to one but Scott Allgood and Moran would tally two more goals putting the Cardinals back on top by three with 6:07 remaining. Will Warner would close out the third quarter with two goals of his own to cut the Cardinals lead to 7-6 with one quarter left to play. Illgen would extend the Cardinal lead to two as he fired one past Topher Hays with 13:41 remaining in the game. The Pioneers would tie the game up at eight with two quick goals but the Cardinals would strike once again. Allgood and Illgen would score two goals to put them on top 10-8 with 7:47 to play. The Pioneers would score two goals just 50 seconds apart to tie the game up once again but Eberhardt would finish off a pass from Moran and put the Cardinals on top 11-10 with four minutes to play. After a late turnover by the Cardinals, the Pioneers sprinted down the field with only seconds remaining but their final shot went wide and the Cardinals flooded the field in celebration.
"I am so proud of our guys today. These are the type of Championship games you want. A back and forth game against a talented team and come out on top. It just shows the support they have for one another to just keep fighting. We're going to keep getting better everyday. We get more time together this year and I'm thankful for that" said head coach Jay Farrell.
Eberhardt led the team with three goals while Rubino, Moran, Allgood and Illgen each had two goals. Moran led the team with three assists and five points while Conner Holderness led the team with five caused turnovers and five ground balls. Aidan Murphy tallied ten saves in net for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals earned the CCIW's automatic qualifier and will find out tonight who their opponent is in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. To watch the selection show, click HERE.
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