Box Score

There is something comforting for John Carroll men's lacrosse to open a season against Concordia Wisconsin.

Three different times, JCU has opened the year against Falcons, winning by two goals (9-7) in 2014, followed by one goal victories (4-3, 6-5) in 2015 (4-3) and 2016 (6-5). The series was interrupted last year, but resumed Saturday at FItting Field in Mequon, Wisconsin.

After a slow start in the first quarter, JCU would dominate and win the game by a final score of 12-3.

It was a quality win against a quality opponent, as Concordia Wsiconsin was a regular season co-champion of the Midwest Lacrosse Conference and was picked to finish second in the MLC Preseason Poll conducted by the league's head coaches.

To start off the game, a mistake on the JCU defensive end gave Concordia the lead with just under a minute elapsed. That lead would hold for the majority of the quarter, until Collin Rice got the Blue and Gold on the board with an assist from Colin Corcoran. With 3:56 remaining, the score would be 1-1, and that would stand going into the second quarter.

The Blue Streaks offense would find another gear in the second stanza. Within the first five minutes, Skyler Blake, Patrick O'Grady on a man-up opportunity, and Collin Rice would each find the score sheet to give the Blue Streaks a 4-1 lead.

Freshman Brendan Whitty would have a part in the next two goals as he assisted Skyler Blake for his second goal on another man-up opportunity, and he would score the next goal, the first of his collegiate career, from an assist by Ryan Crater. Concordia would add a goal late in the quarter, but JCU would go into halftime with a 6-2 lead.

The Blue Streaks lead the Falcons in shots 21-9 after the first two quarters of play. JCU would also be 2-3 on man-up opportunities in the first half.

The third quarter would be characterized by defense. Only one goal would be scored, and Brendan Whitty, with the assist from RP Whitty, extended the lead for JCU in just over a minute, giving the Blue and Gold a 7-2 lead. Jacob Betz, who made his first collegiate start in goal for John Carroll, made four saves in the quarter. The junior would finish the day with 10 saves.

The offense picked up again for JCU in the fourth quarter. Brendan Whitty scored his third goal early in the quarter with the assist credited to Colin Corcoran. Skyler Blake would score his third goal eight seconds later after Braden Kaib won the faceoff and found him open for the shot. Concordia would score after the two quick goals, and JCU would have a 9-3 lead. JCU would tack on three more goals in the quarter with Colin Corcoran, Skyler Blake, from the assist by Collin Rice, and Brendan Whitty, from an assist by Peyton Elliott, each scoring a goal to close out the game and give the Blue Streaks a 12-3 victory over the Falcons.

Brendan Whitty and Skyler Blake led the way for JCU in goals scoring four goals each. Whitty also finished the day with five points, which also led the team. Colin Corcoran would record two assists in the contest, and Connor Jones would lead the team in ground balls with three. The Blue Streaks won the shot total 35-27, the ground ball battle 22-16, and the faceoff battle 11-18, with Braden Kaib winning 10 of 16 faceoffs. JCU would also clear 14 out of 17 times.

John Carroll will play the second of five consecutive road games on Saturday, March 3rd, as they travel to Wooster, Ohio to take on Wooster. Face off is scheduled for 1:00 PM.