DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team returned to their longtime home on Park Avenue on Saturday afternoon, playing host to Wittenberg at Roy Rike Field within the Jay Martin Soccer Complex. At Rike, the Battling Bishops celebrated senior day with a dominant win over the Tigers, 21-8.

Prior to the first faceoff, Ohio Wesleyan celebrated seniors Will Siegenthaler, Noah Citek, Colin Counahan, Garrett Smith, Will White, Xander Craven, Trey Weber, Matt Keeler, and Aidan Gennaro alongside early-graduating junior Dean Shacklett for their accomplishments and contributions to the OWU men's lacrosse program.

With the win, OWU improves to 5-6 on the season and 3-2 in the NCAC. Wittenberg topples to 1-11 overall and 0-5 in conference play

The Bishops started the festivities quickly with a pair of goals in the first five minutes from Wade Beckstrom and Henry Ross, assisted by Shacklett and Siegenthaler. Wittenberg tallied their first at the 8:45 mark followed by another pair for the Red and Black. Keeler recorded the first of the two, joined by Beckstrom, with Ross and Nick Sauline on the assists. The Tigers ended the quarter with an additional two sandwiching a score from Sauline to make it 5-3 after the first period of play. Siegenthaler picked up the assist on Sauline's goal.

The second and third quarters were all Ohio Wesleyan as the Battling Bishops outscored Wittenberg 6-1 in each period to all but put the game away. The six goals in the second quarter came in the form of two groups of triplets. Max Kemp put away the first followed by two from Ross. Smith, Henry Pinamonti, and Blake Altman managed the second group. In the third, it was a pair followed by four-straight for the Bishops. Ross and Aidan Flowers combined for the first two, with Beckstrom, Michael Maffucci, Shacklett, and Connor Lasch scoring the other four.

The Red and Black attack ended with a 4-3 advantage in the fourth quarter, bringing the final score to 21-8. Lasch and Ryan Zabatta took two apiece to end it.

THE NUMBERS
The Red and Black cranked off another season-high of 77 shots, putting 45 on target. The Bishops also finished with season-highs of 62 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers. OWU was 20-for-31 on faceoffs and 16-for-16 on clears.

Wade Beckstrom booked three goals and three assists for six points alongside two ground balls.

Henry Ross recorded four points on three goals and one assist with two caused turnovers and four ground balls.

Ryan Zabatta tallied a career-high three points on a career-high two goals and one assist, adding two ground balls.

Connor Lasch scored a career-high three goals along with one ground ball.

Dean Shacklett tacked on a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as well as two ground balls.

Max Kemp and Nick Sauline had identical statlines with one goal, one assist, two points, and one ground ball each.

Michael Maffucci, Garrett Smith, Aidan Flowers, Henry Pinamonti, Blake Altman, and Matt Keeler all contributed a goal. Keeler's was the first of his career to go along with two ground balls. Altman and Flowers also had two ground balls, while Maffucci had one.

Will Siegenthaler recorded two assists along with a ground ball.

Wes Starr put up his first career point with an assist alongside two ground balls.

Carson Fialho and Aidan Bates also had an assist each.

Noah Citek went 13-for-16 on the faceoff and grabbed nine ground balls. He was joined by Simon Hall (5-for-13, 6 GB, 1 CT), Chris Restaino (1-for-1, 1 GB, 1 CT), and Simon Stoller (1-for-1, 1 GB).

Defensively, the Battling Bishops were led by Tanner Hower (3 CT, 4 GB), Luca DiCarlo (2 CT, 4 GB), Trey Weber (2 CT, 2 GB), Luke Miller (1 CT, 3 GB), Aidan Gryzlo (1 CT, 2 GB), Aidan Gennaro (1 CT, 1 GB), and Colin Counahan (1 CT).

Jason Mosher (W, 4-5) started in the cage and played the first half. Will White played the third quarter and made one save with two caused turnovers and two ground balls. Jack Hartman closed out the game with three saves in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT
OWU will be back at Selby Stadium on Tuesday, hosting DePauw at 7 p.m.