BLOOMINGTON, Ill. –- Illinois Wesleyan continued its run across the top of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) mountain in men’s lacrosse on Saturday afternoon, claiming a 16-13 victory over Elmhurst in the final of the CCIW Championship at Tucci Stadium in Bloomington.
 
It’s the Titans’ third tournament title in a row and their seventh overall since 2017. 
 
Jake Kahoun gave the Titans three goals and an assist in the victory. Noah Dretzka hit the back of the net twice and assisted on two more tallies. Colin Tervo made 23 saves for the Titans, tying a CCIW Championship single-game record.
 
The hosts struck early and often on Saturday, sprinting to a 4-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. But Elmhurst swarmed its way back, ripping off seven consecutive goals to move in front, 7-4. CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year Eli Spence scored three times during the outburst that ended midway through the second quarter.
 
IWU pushed back to force a 7-7 tie at halftime, then continued its run of seven straight goals of its own with four more to start the second half. When the dust settled, it was an 11-7 Illinois Wesleyan advantage with 5:14 left in the third period and the Titans would not trail again.
 
The Bluejays made one final run, scoring three unanswered goals in the final frame to pull within 14-12. But Dretzka and Nick Horrocks answered with insurance goals for IWU in the final four minutes to put the contest out of reach.
 
Spence led all players with eight points on four goals and four assists. Pete Grebe also scored three times for EU.
 
Elmhurst’s DJ Mullenhoff was recognized as the CCIW Elite 26 award recipient in men’s lacrosse in a presentation before the game. The award is presented to the student-athlete who excels academically and athletically at the conference level in each of the CCIW's 26 sponsored sports.