NAPERVILLE, Ill. –
Mac Harden scored twice in the final 2:15 to help lead the Elmhurst men's lacrosse team to a 13-11 road victory over North Central College.
Elmhurst upped its record to 8-5 overall and 3-1 in the CCIW with the win while North Central slid to 8-4 overall and 1-3 in league play.
Elmhurst jumped out to an early 3-1 lead behind goals from
Ty Funderburk,
Carter Meyer and
Dan O'Connell, but North Central answered back with three straight goals to take a 4-3 lead into the second quarter.
The Bluejays outscored the Cardinals 4-1 in the second quarter behind goals from
Cullen Nordeman, Funderburk,
Marcus Yandall and
Mac Harden. Elmhurst carried a 7-5 lead into half.
North Central turned the tables in the third quarter, outscoring the Bluejays 3-1 to pull even at 8-8 entering the fourth and final quarter.
Harden scored on a man-advantage early in the fourth to put the Bluejays back in front at 9-8. Yandall added back-to-back goals less than a minute apart to extend the Bluejays' lead to three with eight minutes to play. North Central made one last run, using a 3-0 run over the next 3:30 to pull even at 11-11.
Harden took over in the final minutes, scoring with 2:15 to put Elmhurst back in front at 12-11. Harden added an insurance goal with less than a minute remaining to help Elmhurst preserve the two-goal win.
Elmhurst outshot North Central 55-32 and held a 36-26 edge in ground balls.
Harden powered the Bluejays with four goals while Yandall finished with a team-high six points, totaling three goals and thress assists. Funderburk added two goals and two assists while Nordemann also scored twice for Elmhurst. Meyer finished with a goal and an assist while also adding 17 ground balls and winning 22-of-27 faceoffs.
Noah Bachofen played the first 41 minutes in goal, allowing seven goals while recording two saves.
Harry Meredith played the final 19 minutes, allowing four goals and recording seven saves while earning the win.
Tanner James and Jared Weaver led the Cardinals in the loss. James scored four goals and added an assist while Weaver scored twice and totaled four assists.
Elmhurst hosts Carthage College on Wednesday, April 24.
