MEQUON, Wis. - The Concordia University Wisconsin men's lacrosse team capped off a memorable 2025 season with a 12-8 overall record and an 8-3 mark in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play, earning the No. 3 seed in the NACC Tournament and advancing to the championship game for the second consecutive year. Fueled by a high-powered offense, a dominant home presence, and a senior class that rewrote the record book, CUW continued its rise as one of the region's top programs.
After a tough early schedule that featured three eventual NCAA Tournament teams, the Falcons broke through with a 23-4 rout of Northland. Sophomore Bryce Petersen (Waukesha, Wis.) tallied 10 points, including seven assists, to lead CUW's first 20-goal game of the season. That win sparked a run that included a 20-9 conference-opening victory over Benedictine and statement wins against Cornell, Lake Forest, and Carroll.
One of the season's defining moments came in a 14-13 overtime win over Lake Forest on March 29. Petersen netted the golden goal — one of five on the day — and sophomore goalie Travis Marquardt (Brookfield, Wis.) made a crucial overtime save to seal the win. It launched a stretch in which CUW won nine of its next 11 games.
Senior Max Esposito (Gaithersburg, Md.) led the way with a career year, becoming the program's all-time leading goal scorer and breaking the 300-point mark. He posted 49 goals and 63 assists for 112 points, leading the NACC and ranking ninth nationally. Esposito was named NACC Offensive Player of the Year for the third straight season and earned USILA All-American honors for the second year in a row.
Fellow senior Caleb Ruger (Grafton, Wis.) added 50 goals and 34 assists, finishing with back-to-back dominant outings to end the regular season. He reached the 100-goal milestone on Senior Day, posted 10 points against MSOE, and scored six times in a 13-5 NACC Quarterfinal win over Illinois Tech. Ruger earned NACC Offensive Player of the Week, USILA Team of the Week, and All-NACC and All-Tournament honors.
CUW closed the regular season on a six-game win streak, capped by lopsided wins over Marian and Edgewood. In the playoffs, the Falcons edged Illinois Tech and upset No. 2 seed Dubuque 14-13 in the semifinals. Senior Gio Nowotarski (Reading, Pa.) scored the game winner late, while Esposito added five points. In the title game, CUW rallied but fell to Aurora 14-9. Petersen recorded a hat trick, and freshman goalie Nolan O'Malley (Chicago, Ill.) made a career-high 18 saves.
Petersen finished the season with 66 goals and 29 assists for 95 points, ranking top 10 nationally and top two in the conference. He earned two NACC Offensive Player of the Week awards and All-NACC Honorable Mention recognition alongside Ruger, Nowotarski, senior Michael Lange (Brookfield, Wis.), and juniors Preston Meier (Owatonna, Minn.) and Oliver Roa (Dunlap, Ill.).
Sophomore faceoff specialist Jaxon Hill (Bismarck, N.D.) was a key difference maker, winning 181 faceoffs and leading CUW with 114 ground balls. He earned Second Team All-NACC honors and anchored one of the league's top possession units.
CUW finished 6-2 at home, reached double-digit wins for the fourth straight year, and returned to the NACC title game with a roster that produced four 20-goal games, six weekly award winners, and three All-Tournament honorees — Esposito, Ruger, and senior Zach Wilder (Midland, Mich.).
Led by a senior class that won 46 games and made four straight postseason appearances, the 2025 Falcons secured their place among the program's elite. With a strong core returning, CUW is primed for another championship push in 2026.
