WHITTIER, Calif. – The Elmhurst men's lacrosse team racked up its fifth straight victory by overwhelming Whittier College 8-2 in the second half en route to a 14-7 road victory.
 
Elmhurst upped its record to 6-1 on the season while Whittier fell to 4-4 overall.
 
The Bluejays raced out to a quick 3-0 lead just six minutes into the contest. Mac Harden and Luke Richardson both scored on an extra-man advantage before Dan O'Connell's goal made the score 3-0. Whittier answered back with three straight goals to pull even at 3-3 at the end of the first quarter.

Andrew Frerich and Harden scored the first goals of the second half to put Elmhurst back up by two, by Whitteier's Connor Dee scored to cut Elmhurst's lead in half. Jake Heil added a goal with 6:52 left in the quarter to extend Elmhurst's lead back to two at 6-4. Nate Heritage scored for the Poets with six minutes left to bring Whittier to within a goal at 6-5 at halftime.
 
Elmhurst exploded in the third quarter, ripping of six straight goals to blow the game open up and take a seven-goal lead in the process. Ty Funderburk scored back-to-back goals to get the scoring started. Trent Nyberg, O'Connell, Frerich and Harden also scored for the Bluejays' in the 6-0 run. Elmhurst led 12-5 after three quarters.
 
Whittier scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter before O'Connell and Marcus Yandall answered back with goals for the Bluejays to pull away for the seven-goal victory.
 
Elmhurst controlled the flow of the contest, outshooting Whittier 43-17. The Bluejays totaled 38 ground balls to Whittier's 23. Carter Meyer controlled the faceoff circle for the Bluejays, winning 19-of-24 attempts.
 
O'Connell finished with a team-leading five points, scoring three goals and totaling two assists. Harden completed the hat trick with three goals while Funderburk and Frerich scored two apiece. Yandall finished with three points on a goal and two assists. Jake Cambron added three assists for the Bluejays while Meyer recorded a team-best 10 ground balls. Jacob Delgado picked up the victory in goal, recording five saves.

Heritage and Dee led Whittier with two goals apiece in the loss.
 
Elmhurst returns home to host Beloit College on March 27.