MEQUON, Wis. - The Falcons hosted their first home conference game of the season on Saturday, taking on Benedictine University. CUW came out on top with a 20-9 victory, powered by a fast start that helped them secure their first conference win. The victory improves their record to 2-5 overall and 1-1 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC).
This marks the second time this season the Falcons have scored 20 or more goals, the first being on March 12 against Northland.
CUW jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead just 4:54 into the game. Junior Preston Meier (Owatonna, Minn.) got things going with an unassisted goal just 39 seconds in. Senior Max Esposito (Gaithersburg, Md.) then set up sophomore Bryce Petersen (Waukesha, Wis.) for the second goal at the 12:14 mark, followed by Petersen scoring again just eight seconds later, assisted by senior Caleb Ruger (Grafton, Wis.).
Benedictine would fightt back, but senior Gio Nowotarski (Reading, Pa.) scored an unassisted goal to put the Falcons up 4-3. However, CUW finished the quarter strong with two more goals to take a 6-3 lead. Petersen scored with 2:51 remaining, assisted by Esposito, and Ruger found the back of the net with an assist from Petersen.
Building on their strong first quarter, the Falcons dominated the second, outscoring the Eagles 6-2 to take a 12-5 lead at halftime. Sophomore Tyler Husby (Eagan, Minn.) opened the scoring in the second quarter with an assist from Esposito. Just 31 seconds later, Petersen scored again, assisted by Ruger, who tallied his 100th career assist in the process. Ruger became just the second player in CUW men's lacrosse history to reach the 100-assist milestone, joining Esposito, who achieved the feat last year.
The Falcons ended the half with four unanswered goals. Petersen scored his third of the game with an assist from sophomore Jaxon Hill (Bismarck, N.D.), followed by Ruger's second goal, assisted by Esposito. Nowotarski scored next, assisted by Husby, and Meier added his second unassisted goal to give CUW a commanding 12-5 lead at the break.
Coming out of halftime, the Falcons capitalized on a man-up opportunity due to a Benedictine penalty, with Husby scoring just 16 seconds into the third quarter, assisted by Petersen. CUW continued their dominance in the third, outscoring the Eagles 7-1. Key goals in this stretch came from Ruger, Esposito, Nowotarski, senior Michael Lange (Brookfield, Wis.), freshman Jackson Knutson (Roseville, Minn.), and Husby again, as the Falcons carried a 19-6 lead into the final quarter.
In the fourth, Petersen set up Nowotarski for the final goal of the game, helping the Falcons close out the 20-9 win.
Statistically, the Falcons controlled nearly every category, outshooting Benedictine 39-25 in shots on goal and forcing 22 turnovers while committing just 17. CUW also dominated ground balls, collecting 44 compared to Benedictine's 34. The Falcons were nearly flawless in clearing attempts, going 27-for-28, while the Eagles gave Concordia six extra-man opportunities, while CUW did not give Benedictine any extra man opportunities.
Individually, Bryce Petersen had an outstanding game, finishing with eight points on five goals and three assists, along with five ground balls. Max Esposito also recorded eight points, with one goal and seven assists, and added two caused turnovers. Caleb Ruger contributed six points with three goals and three assists. Gio Nowotarski also added four goals.
Defensively, Jaxon Hill scooped up nine ground balls and went 14-for-24 on faceoffs, while junior Oliver Roa (Dunlap, Ill.) grabbed four ground balls. Senior Scott Lileks (Boise, Idaho) and Michael Lange each caused three turnovers. In goal, sophomore Travis Marquardt (Brookfield, Wis.) recorded 15 saves to earn his second win of the season.
The Falcons will continue conference play next Wednesday as they travel to Illinois Tech to face the Scarlet Hawks.
