Contact:  Taiah Gallisath, Associate Director of Athletics Communications, 630-637-5302
Written by:  Rachel Balinao, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant, rabalinao@noctrl.edu 

LISLE, Ill. (Feb. 21, 2026) - For the first time in six years, the North Central College men's lacrosse team fell to Benedictine University 6-5 in overtime in the Battle for the Chicago/Maple Ave Cup.

Right from the opening whistle, North Central capitalized on an extra-man opportunity as Seth Rosen connected with Jake Scumaci for the Cardinals first goal of the season. Minutes later, Devon Manjarrez found Ty Nagy in scoring position to double the Cardinals' advantage. Nagy struck again with 7:44 remaining in the first quarter, finishing a feed from Will Sanchez to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.

Benedictine answered with momentum of its own as the Eagles converted on a man-up chance to cut the deficit to 3-1 before scoring less than a minute later to pull within one. Nagy responded before the end of the quarter, completing his hat trick to push North Central back in front at 4-2 heading into the second quarter. 

The Cardinals maintained pressure in the second quarter, firing nine shots and placing five on the cage. With time winding down in the half, a North Central penalty allowed Benedictine to capitalize the opportunity, scoring with 23 seconds remaining to trim the deficit to 4-3 entering halftime. 

The Cardinals controlled the opening face off of the second half and immediately tested the defense with three quick shots, nearly extending the lead. After a ground ball swung possession, Benedictine capitalized on its offensive set, finishing from close range to tie the game at four with 9:34 remaining in the third quarter.

North Central regained the lead early in the fourth, while at the 12:32 mark, Nagy ripped a shot past the keeper off an assist from Manjarrez to put the Cardinals in front, 5-4. Goalkeeper Beck Hagen anchored the defense with back-to-back saves during a critical stretch, finishing with 10 stops as North Central battled to protect the lead. Despite the defensive stand, Benedictine found the equalizer with 30 seconds remaining in regulation, forcing sudden-victory overtime.

In the five-minute overtime period, Quintin Witt and Nagy each scooped up key ground balls to open play, but a caused turnover shifted possession back to the Eagles. Benedictine applied pressure with three shots on goal in the final two minutes before converting the game-winner to secure the 6-5 victory and reclaim the Cup.

Nagy led North Central with four goals, tying his career high, and added two ground balls. Witt collected a team-high six ground balls, and Hagen totaled 10 saves.

North Central remains on the road Wednesday, Feb. 25, traveling to face Concordia University Wisconsin at 3 p.m. at Fitting Field.