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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
2023 OAC Men's Lacrosse Championship
JCU captured their seventh consecutive OAC Tournament title, and third straight against Baldwin Wallace in Berea.
6
Winner John Carroll JOHN CARROLL 14-2, 8-1
5
Baldwin Wallace BALDWIN WALLACE 16-3, 9-0
Winner
John Carroll JOHN CARROLL
14-2, 8-1
6
Final
5
Baldwin Wallace BALDWIN WALLACE
16-3, 9-0
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
John Carroll JOHN CARROLL 0 3 1 2 6
Baldwin Wallace BALDWIN WALLACE 1 2 1 1 5

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | | Noah Tylutki, Graduate Assistant

Spectacular Defensive Play Leads to Seventh Straight OAC Title For Men's Lacrosse

BEREA, Ohio – A better script could not have been written for the 2023 Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Lacrosse Championship.

Facing the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets for the conference title in Berea for the third straight season, JCU's Matt Berdysiak scored on an assist from Morgan Morrell with 2:56 left in the game to win 6-5, and capture their seventh straight OAC Tournament championship.

It was the lowest scoring championship game in OAC history, and JCU's fifth straight win over the Yellow Jackets in the OAC Tournament despite losing to them in the regular season in each of the last five years.

"Winning one tonight was amazing," Blue Streak head coach Joe Rautenstrauch said.  "It was an absolute battle back and forth, and we threw the last punch.  We ask a lot out of our players, and they earned this championship."

The first quarter was a true testament to both teams' defenses, as BW scored the lone goal of the period over eight minutes in.

Then in the second, the Yellow Jackets' Jake Branton found the back of the net to make it 2-0 less than three minutes into the quarter.

John Carroll finally started to get more opportunities, as they rattled off three straight goals in a span of four minutes.  Max Cook was the first to score, followed by Colin Morrissey and Camden Uchic to make it 3-2.  Baldwin Wallace tied the contest at 3-3 on a Jonas Aquilla man-up goal with just four seconds left in the period.

Each team would score once more in the third, as JCU retook the lead, 4-3, courtesy of a Josh Lombardo goal with 6:12 left in the period.  Bennet Trout knotted it back up with a little more than a minute and a half remaining.

Trout scored once more just 56 seconds into the fourth, as BW took a 5-4 advantage.  However, Nicholas Yemma found the back of the net right after the faceoff just eight seconds later to make it 5-5.

Both teams remained patient in their attacks, as strong defense played a major role in forcing errant passes and shots.

Despite both teams' offensive struggles, JCU capitalized on a man-up opportunity with Berdysiak's goal.

Baldwin Wallace had one more possession to tie the game up, but Aquilla turned it over which led to John Carroll holding on for the win.

John Carroll's Jon Gaglio was spectacular in net, as he recorded 11 saves, while all six goals were scored by different Blue Streaks.

Rautenstrauch, who has coached six of JCU's title teams, credited the coaching staff for an incredible game plan.

"Coach (Griffin) Buczek put together a great game plan on defense, and the guys bought in.  It was a true team effort, and Gaglio was an absolute brick wall in net.  I cannot thank our team enough for believing in our coaching staff and what we ask them to do here."

With the victory, the Blue Streaks qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the seventh consecutive time.  Their opponent will be determined during the NCAA's Selection Show, which will be held on Sunday, May 7 at 9 p.m. on ncaa.com.
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