BW Men's Lacrosse Falls to John Carroll in OAC Tournament Title Game

Posted: May 06, 2023

By: Athletic Communications Student Assistant Joe Meyer '24

BEREA, Ohio - The Baldwin Wallace University men's lacrosse team dropped a thriller to crosstown rival John Carroll University after a late goal in the 2023 OAC Tournament Championship Game. The top-seeded Yellow Jackets fell to the second-seeded Blue Streaks by a final score of 6-5, the lowest-scoring game in OAC Championship history, on the Tressel Field inside George Finnie Stadium.

The title game loss for BW (16-3) snaps a program-record 16-game winning streak following an 0-2 start to the season, which included an 8-4 win over JCU in the rivals' regular season tilt on March 29. 

Freshman attacker/midfielder Bennet Trout (Pickerington/North) led the Yellow Jackets, recording two goals and an assist. His second goal of the game, which gave BW a 5-4 lead with 14 minutes to play, was his 36th of the year, breaking the program record for goals scored by a freshman. 

The Yellow Jackets' defense, which currently ranks first in the nation in average goals against, delivered another impressive performance despite the loss. Anchored by senior All-OAC goalkeeper Joe Storner (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier), who recorded 11 saves in the final, BW held JCU scoreless for two separate stretches of over 15 minutes. BW's other star defender, senior All-American, All-OAC, and Academic All-OAC Neil Randall notched two caused turnovers in the contest, which marks 140 in his career, making him the All-Time Leader in Career Caused Turnovers in BW men's lacrosse history. 

JCU (14-2) was led by senior goalkeeper Jon Gaglio, as he stopped 11 of the 16 shots he faced. Nine different players tallied one point apiece for the Blue Streaks. 

FIRST QUARTER

  • 6:10 - Junior attacker/midfielder Keaton Trout (Pickerington/North) found a cutting junior attacker/midfielder Hunter Boehm (Delaware/Olentangy), who scored to break the deadlock. 

SECOND QUARTER

  • 12:49 - A BW goal by senior All-OAC attacker/midfielder Jake Branton (Marysville) doubled the lead, assisted by senior All-OAC midfielder Jonas Aquilla (Westlake/St. Edward).
  • 11:59 - After being held scoreless for the opening 18 minutes, JCU got on the board with a goal by junior midfielder Max Cook.
  • 9:05 & 8:06 - The Blue Streaks scored twice in 59 seconds, taking a 3-2 lead after goals by freshman attack Colin Morrissey and freshman defender Camden Uchic.
  • 0:04 - Aquilla found the back of the net with a long-range bounce shot as time ran down, tying the game at three heading into halftime. 

THIRD QUARTER

  • 6:12 - JCU retook the lead on a goal by freshman midfielder Josh Lombardo.
  • 1:32 - BW's responded minutes later, tying the game on a brother-to-brother connection, as Keaton Trout found Bennet Trout, who fired one past the JCU goalie.

FOURTH QUARTER

  • 14:04 - The Yellow Jackets retook the lead on Bennet Trout's freshman record-breaking 36th goal of the year, assisted by freshman midfielder Ian Shealy (Westerville/Central).
  • 13:56 - JCU freshman midfielder Nicholas Yemma won the ensuing faceoff, then raced downfield and slotted a shot into the back of the net to tie the game at five.
  • 2:56 - JCU senior attacker Matt Berdysiak scored the game-winner on a man-up opportunity with just under three minutes to go, and the Blue Streaks held on for a 6-5 victory.

The Yellow Jackets will await news of a potential at-large berth to the NCAA Division III men's lacrosse tournament. The selection show will air tomorrow, Sunday, May 7 at 9:00 p.m. on NCAA.com.