DELAWARE, Ohio – The two-seed Ohio Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team hosted rival three-seed Denison in a NCAC Tournament Semifinal at Selby Stadium on Wednesday night. The Battling Battles were a step ahead all night, but needed a fourth quarter spark to put the game away 14-12.
The Red and Black continue their season at 10-6 after completing conference play at 6-2. Denison's season comes to an end at 8-9, also having completed conference play at 6-2.
OWU came out with a purpose, scoring three times within a span of 2:04 to take a 3-0 lead around the halfway point of the first quarter.
Henry Ross put the first in after five-and-a-half scoreless minutes before assisting on the second to
Carson Fialho.
Blake Altman netted the third. Denison got on the scoreboard soon thereafter with a pair to make it 3-2. Each side scored one more before the first break, taking the game to 4-3.
Wade Beckstrom was responsible for the remaining goal for the Bishops.
The Big Red tied the game at 4-4 early in the second quarter but that struck a chord with Ohio Wesleyan. The Battling Bishops responded with another streak of three to take back command of the game at 7-4.
Garrett Smith scored the first, followed by Altman and Ross. Denison gave their best efforts to pull even – scoring three in the remainder of the half – but the Bishops kept the Big Red at bay with two of their own, making it a 9-7 game.
Noah Citek and Ross provided the insurance.
The game began to slip away in the third period as Denison scored three-straight to take their first lead of the game at 10-9. Luckily, Beckstrom netted an equalizer before the two teams went silent for the final eight-and-a-half minutes of the quarter, leaving it at 10-10.
Denison seemed to snatch the momentum with a goal seven seconds into the fourth quarter, but that ended up being far from the truth. After nearly seven scoreless minutes, the OWU offense – headlined by Beckstrom – exploded for four-straight to take a commanding 14-11 lead. Beckstrom managed a hat trick in the fourth quarter alone, scoring three of the four goals with Altman making the other. Aided by penalties, Ohio Wesleyan would drain the clock for the final few minutes, allowing just one consolation goal on the way to a 14-12 victory.
THE NUMBERS
It was an even game on the offensive end, with the Bishops holding a slim 39-36 advantage on shots, and shots on goal split at 26-26. OWU was better on the faceoff at 18-11, and grabbed more ground balls at 48-38. The Red and Black caused nine of Denison's 13 turnovers and went 19-for-21 on clears.
Wade Beckstrom was a force for the Ohio Wesleyan offense, tying his season highs of seven points and five goals, adding two assists, one caused turnover, and five ground balls.
Henry Ross scored three goals and dished out two assists for five points along with one caused turnover at three ground balls.
Blake Altman tied his career high with three goals. He also had a caused turnover.
Garrett Smith had two points with a goal and an assist as well as five ground balls.
Carson Fialho scored a goal, caused two turnovers, and picked up three ground balls.
Noah Citek was the lone faceoff-taker for the Bishops, going 18-for-29, picking up 12 ground balls, and scoring a goal.
Trey Weber (1 CT, 4 GB),
Dean Shacklett (1 CT, 3 GB),
Luke Miller (3 GB),
Luca DiCarlo (3 GB),
Henry Pinamonti (1 GB),
Jayden Franzen (1 GB), and
Christian Caballero (1 GB) led on the defensive end.
Jason Mosher (W, 7-5) made 14 saves in his 60 minutes in the cage, also picking up two ground balls.
UP NEXT
The Battling Bishops will take on one-seed Oberlin in the NCAC Tournament Championship on Saturday. The title game will get started in Oberlin at 7 p.m.
