Jake Scumaci battling Carthage defender
Steve Woltmann Photography
10
Winner Carthage CARTHAGE 7-7, 2-0
9
North Central (Ill.) NORTH CE 1-11, 0-2
Winner
Carthage CARTHAGE
7-7, 2-0
10
Final
9
North Central (Ill.) NORTH CE
1-11, 0-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Carthage CARTHAGE 4 3 0 3 10
North Central (Ill.) NORTH CE 1 0 4 4 9

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse |

Men’s Lacrosse Suffers Heartbreaker to Carthage

Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Associate Director of Athletics Communications, 630-637-5302

April 11, 2026 -  Despite rallying from a six-goal deficit and holding its opponent scoreless for 31 minutes, the North Central College men's lacrosse team (1-11, 0-2 CCIW) falls in a heartbreaking 10–9 loss to College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) foe Carthage College (7-7, 2-0 CCIW) on Saturday afternoon, conceding the game-winning goal in the final minutes.

North Central held statistical advantages in ground balls (30-27), saves (18-8), faceoff wins (12-10), while Carthage led in shots (43-31), clears (19-16), and caused turnovers (11-8). 

Jake Scumaci, Wyatt Hunt, and Ben Kerkow led the team with two goals apiece, while Zachary Coursel, Ty Nagy, and Devon Manjarrez also found the back of the net. Matthew Cranston anchored the Cardinal defense with a standout performance, recording a career-high 18 saves and a .643 save percentage in goal. At the faceoff X, Gavin Braley posted a career-best outing with 10 ground balls while going 11-for-18, and Alex Porter added a team-high three caused turnovers, tying his career high.

Carthage got out to a hot start to kick off the game with three straight goals in the opening seven minutes of action. With under four minutes in the half, Scumaci put away the Cardinals' first goal of the game on a point-blank look. Carthage answered two minutes later with another goal to make it 4-1. Cranston stopped a shot to keep it within three after the first 15 minutes. 

The Firebirds managed to put away three more goals in the second quarter, including a man-up goal, to take a 7-1 advantage into halftime. 

Momentum shifted in favor of the Cardinals after the break, as the Cardinals held the Firebirds scoreless for 31 minutes. Hunt sparked the North Central rally with two goals to open the second half. On his first, Hunt battled through his defender before hitting a step-back for the Cardinals' second goal of the contest. He followed it up with a 15-yard man-up goal to bring the score to 7-3 in favor of the Firebirds.

With under four minutes to go in the third, North Central was awarded a loose ball, in which Coursel charged in for the uncontested goal. Similarly, Kerkow notched the scoop near midfield and took it all the way in to put the Cardinals within two, 7-5, heading into the final period. 

Cranston notched a big stop to start off the fourth quarter and maintain North Central's momentum. With 10:41 on the clock, Manjarrez scored on a big rip 15 yards out to make it a one-goal game. Less than a minute later, Kerkow fired in his second goal of the game to tie it up at 7-7. 

Off the pass from Will Sanchez, Nagy made his move at the crease and buried the goal for the Cardinals' first lead of the contest. Scumaci padded North Central's lead with another goal with under four minutes remaining, as the Cardinals led 9-7.

At the 3:13 mark, the Firebirds scored their first goal in over 31 minutes, igniting for three straight to close out the 10-9 victory. 

North Central is back at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on Saturday, April 18, to host Elmhurst University for the Cardinals' senior day. Game time is set for 7 p.m., with senior day recognition taking place before the game. 
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