NAPERVILLE — College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) men’s lacrosse teams continued through the final stretch of non-conference play last week, using the schedule to prepare for the start of league competition. 
 
The week included individual milestones, a one-goal overtime result and several road tests across the region. Offensive production remained a theme across the conference, while goalkeeping and defensive efforts also played a role in several outings.
 
Spence-ational Scoring: Bluejays Fly High in Ohio
Elmhurst went 2-0 during a road trip through Ohio, highlighted by a 15-14 overtime win at Kenyon last Saturday. Eli Spence led the Bluejays with seven goals and two assists, tying the game with 15 seconds left in regulation before scoring the game-winner with 55 seconds remaining in overtime. 
 
Elmhurst followed with a 10-6 victory at Wooster on Tuesday. After the score was tied 6-6 early in the fourth quarter, the Bluejays closed the game with four straight goals. Charlie Ferree finished with two goals and two assists, while Spence added one goal and two assists and Hunter Hernandez scored twice. Elmhurst also controlled possession at Wooster, leading 45-19 in ground balls and winning 18 of 19 faceoffs. Spence was named the CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week for the fourth time this season.
 
A Grand for the Books: McHugh Reaches Triple Digits
Illinois Wesleyan posted a 17-6 win at Wabash on Wednesday in a game that included a milestone for junior Timothy McHugh. During the third quarter, McHugh recorded the 100th assist of his career on a goal by Owen Miller, becoming the seventh player in program history to reach that mark. He finished with six points on three goals and three assists. The Titans outshot Wabash 56-39 and held a 37-16 edge in shots on goal. Miller scored four times for his first career hat trick, while Holden Webster also finished with four goals. Charlie Burghardt contributed career highs of four assists and five points. 
 
At the faceoff X, Michael Rocco and Matt Arnold combined to go 16-of-26, and the Titans forced 12 caused turnovers. Karsten Nordlie and Jake Sline each had two caused turnovers as Illinois Wesleyan converted 24 of 29 clearing attempts.
 
Fourth Quarter Fireworks: Firebirds Torch the Hornets
Carthage used an eight-goal fourth quarter to break open a close game and defeat Kalamazoo, 13-6, on Wednesday at Art Keller Field. Alex Bailey and Rye Taylor each scored three goals, with Bailey also adding an assist. Keyan Schugel led the team with six ground balls, and goalkeeper Jake Williamson made 13 saves. Carthage finished with 16 caused turnovers and forced 22 Kalamazoo turnovers. 
 
Earlier in the week, the Firebirds dropped a 14-8 decision at Albion on Saturday. Jake Westland recorded five points on two goals and three assists, while George Mobraaten finished with six caused turnovers and seven ground balls. Brandon Sawicki added two goals in the loss. Carthage has played a conference-high 11 games and enters the final week of non-conference competition with a 5-6 record.
 
Taylor-Made Defense: Vikings Freshman Sets the Standard
Augustana freshman defender Jamar Taylor was named the CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week on Tuesday after two productive road performances. Against Pitt-Bradford last Saturday, Taylor recorded 10 ground balls and five caused turnovers while also adding two goals and an assist in a 10-6 loss. He followed with 13 ground balls and four caused turnovers against Alfred State on Tuesday. 
 
In the 16-6 loss to Alfred State, Nik Schaafsma led the offense with two goals and two assists. Eddie Resendez won 19 of 24 faceoffs and collected 12 ground balls, while Hagan Quigley made 12 saves. Augustana held advantages in faceoffs and ground balls but was unable to overcome Alfred State’s scoring run in the middle portions of the game.
 
Cranston’s Crease: A Fresh Look in the Cage for North Central
North Central freshman goalkeeper Matthew Cranston made his first collegiate starts during a two-game trip to Michigan. He posted a career-high 16 saves and a .640 save percentage in a 9-7 loss at Calvin last Saturday, including a one-on-one stop in the fourth quarter that kept the Cardinals within reach. 
 
Cranston followed with 14 saves and a .519 save percentage in a 13-6 loss at Albion on Wednesday. Wyatt Hunt continued to lead the North Central offense, recording two goals and an assist against Albion after posting the same three-point total against Calvin. Jack Blaylock added one goal and two assists at Albion, while Ty Nagy and Seth Rosen scored in both games. North Central also forced 11 caused turnovers against Calvin.
 
2026 CCIW Men's Lacrosse Records
Elmhurst leads the conference entering league play with a 7-2 overall record, followed by Illinois Wesleyan at 6-4 and Carthage at 5-6. Augustana is 3-6, Carroll is 3-7 and North Central is 1-9.
 
The Week Ahead: Final Tests Before the CCIW Slate
The final weekend before conference play includes five non-conference contests. Augustana travels to Washington & Jefferson on Saturday at 11 a.m., Illinois Wesleyan faces Calvin at noon, Carthage visits Transylvania at 1 p.m., and Carroll hosts Kalamazoo at 1 p.m. Elmhurst closes the weekend on Sunday with a 1 p.m. home game against Albion.

Conference play begins next Saturday, April 4.