ELMHURST, Ill. — Elmhurst won the 2026 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Men’s Lacrosse Tournament Championship on Saturday with a 19-9 victory over Illinois Wesleyan at Langhorst Field. The tournament championship is the first in program history for the Bluejays.
 
Elmhurst’s win came against Illinois Wesleyan, the three-time defending CCIW tournament champion and the program that had defeated the Bluejays in the conference championship game in 2019, 2024 and 2025.
 
With the victory, Elmhurst secured the CCIW’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Championship. The result also followed Elmhurst’s first outright CCIW regular-season title in program history.
 
Elmhurst scored the first goal of the game when Eli Spence, the two-time CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year, found the net unassisted. The Bluejays added to the lead after an Illinois Wesleyan cross-checking penalty, with Hunter Hernandez scoring on an extra-man opportunity off an assist from Spence.
 
Illinois Wesleyan remained within reach in the opening period behind goals from Noah Dretzka and Owen Miller. Elmhurst, however, continued to create separation.
 
Hernandez led Elmhurst with seven goals, while Spence finished with six goals for the Bluejays. Charlie Ferree added three goals, and Tendo Thom-Goulding, Kyle Taylor and Landon Davis also scored for Elmhurst.
 
Tony Vazquez, the reigning CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year, contributed at the faceoff spot and helped Elmhurst maintain possession during key stretches. Vazquez won the opening faceoff and also provided assists during Bluejay scoring runs. Andrew Lacksonen earned the win in goal for Elmhurst.
 
Jeremy Langosch led Illinois Wesleyan with three goals. The Titans entered the final as the most frequent championship-game participant in league history and were seeking a fourth consecutive CCIW tournament title.
 
Sean Cherry of Elmhurst was recognized as the CCIW Elite 26 award winner following the championship. The award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest grade-point average competing in the championship final.
 
Elmhurst will move on to the national tournament as the CCIW’s automatic qualifier. The Bluejays’ 2026 season now includes the program’s first outright CCIW regular-season title and first CCIW tournament championship.