MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin men's lacrosse team defeated Illinois Institute of Technology, 12-5, at home Wednesday afternoon to earn its second conference win of the season. The Falcons improve to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in NACC play.
 
The victory marks CUW's second straight win over Illinois Tech and gives the Falcons a 6-3 advantage in the all-time series.
 
The Falcons controlled the opening half, scoring seven goals in the first 30 minutes while holding the Scarlet Hawks scoreless. CUW got on the board less than three minutes into the contest when junior Bryce Petersen (Waukesha, Wis.) found the net with an assist from freshman Blane Vrana (Monument, Colo.).
 
In the final five minutes of the first quarter, the Falcons extended their lead with goals from sophomore Bryce Marval (Glenview, Ill.), junior Tyler Husby (Eagan, Minn.), and Petersen, all assisted by freshman Kaleb Weikel (Andover, Minn.).
 
Senior Preston Meier (Owatonna, Minn.) added two goals in the second quarter, while Husby also scored to give the Falcons a commanding 7-0 lead heading into halftime.
 
Both teams scored twice in the third quarter. Petersen and freshman Brayden Wilson (Pueblo West, Colo.) recorded the goals for CUW.
 
The Falcons added two more early in the fourth quarter. Meier opened the scoring to secure his second hat trick of the season, and Weikel followed with his first goal of the game after contributing multiple assists earlier in the contest.
 
Illinois Tech responded with a three-goal run, but Marval capped the scoring with a goal in the final minute to seal the 12-5 Falcon victory.
 
Petersen also recorded a hat trick—his seventh of the season—while adding two assists. Weikel finished with five points on one goal and four assists. Meier led the Falcons with 15 shots out of the team's 69 total attempts, and he and Petersen each finished with a team-high eight shots on goal.
 
Senior Frank Trewyn (Mukwonago, Wis.) was instrumental at the faceoff X, helping CUW win 14 of 21 draws. The senior went 11-of-14 on faceoffs.
 
Defensively, senior Oliver Roa (Dunlap, Ill.) led the Falcons with two caused turnovers and five ground balls.
 
Sophomore Nolan O'Malley (Chicago, Ill.) earned the start in goal for the Royal Blue and White and made 12 saves.
 
The Falcons will return to action Saturday when they travel to Mount Vernon, Iowa, to face Cornell. The matchup is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.