The Men's Lacrosse team is primed for their Spring break trip to Illinois fresh off a 1-0 start to their 2020 campaign. JCU will play three games while away from University Heights; Tuesday March 3 at 6:00 PM (CST) against Illinois Wesleyan University, Thursday March 5 at 4:00 PM (CST) against Aurora University and Sunday March 8 at 1:00 PM at the College of Wooster. 

The Blue Streaks began their season last Saturday February 22 at home with a win over Wittenberg University. Most people will notice the 18 goals scored, but the John Carroll coaches had to really love the 30-plus scoreless minutes that helped deliver an 18-8 victory over Wittenberg at Don Shula Stadium. Sophomore JP Chinelly and the Blue and Gold defense were the formula behind the 30-plus scoreless drought for the Tigers. The drought lasted Wittenberg from the end of the first quarter through the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Moreover, leading the charge for JCU was senior Skyler Blake who netted a game-high four goals while contributing two assists. Fellow senior Cam Gerard and junior Brendan Whitty each tagged on a hat-trick, while Whitty added three assists. 

The Titans of Illinois Wesleyan currently sit at 2-1 with one match to play before they host the Blue Streaks. The Titans opened up their 2020 season on the losing end of a 15-11 match against Rhodes. However, Illinois Wesleyan would rebound in their next two contests as they prevailed victorious at Ohio Wesleyan (14-11) and home vs. Aurora (23-9).

Just a season ago, the Titans put together an impressive 2019 season by finishing 16-2. Illinois Wesleyan captured their conference title (CCIW) over Elmhurst College 25-18, before falling in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championships to Rhodes by a score of 22-9.

This will be a tough match for John Carroll as the Titans traveled to University Heights last season to defeat the Blue Streaks by a score of 17-13. In the loss, now junior Logan Collins led the attack for JCU by finishing off four goals. Junior Kevin Hack added three goals, while Blake and Whitty netted an additional two a piece for the Blue and Gold. Looking forward to this week, John Carroll will seek its first win in program history against the Titans as the Blue Streaks are 0-4 all-time in this series. It won't get any easier this year as Illinois Wesleyan will feel like a true road game as the Titans mounted a 7-1 record at home in 2019.

The Aurora University Spartans sit at 1-1 on the young season with an opening contest win over Augustana (10-8) and a defeat in their most recent match to Illinois Wesleyan 23-9. Before the Spartans host the Blue Streaks, they will play two matches this Sunday in Colorado Springs, CO. 

In 2019, the Spartans turned out a 13-4 record overall and a 7-3 record at home. Aurora lost in their conference's tournament championship game to Concordia University Wisconsin by a score of 9-7.

After a tough match with the Titans, the Spartans will yield much of the same for the Blue Streaks. John Carroll is 0-3 all-time against Aurora dating back to March 2015. The Spartans most recently defeated the Blue Streaks in 2017 in University Heights 6-9. The Blue and Gold have only played one other time in Aurora, back in 2016 when they lost 11-17.

Rounding out the Blue Streaks 2020 Spring break is a date in Wooster against the Fighting Scots. Wooster is currently 0-1 with a season opening loss at Albion 18-16. Before the contest against JCU, Wooster will see competition from fellow OAC opponents Otterbein and Capital in the days preceding. 

Last season the Fighting Scots put together a 7-11 record including 4-5 on home turf. Their season came to an end with a loss in their conference tournament (NCAC) semifinal at Denison, 17-8.

John Carroll and Wooster are an even 3-3 all-time against each other. The Fighting Scots began the series by winning the first three games from 2014-2016. However, John Carroll has roared back as of late taking the three most recent contests from 2017-2019. Most recently, Whitty led the JCU attack with a five goal performance in 2019 against Wooster. Senior Bennett Gorman alongside Blake contributed three goals a piece en route to a JCU victory at Don Shula Stadium, 12-10. 

Moving forward, John Carroll will return back to University Heights on March 18 to host Oberlin College. The match is set for 4:00 PM.