ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst University men's lacrosse team took down Centre College, 17-12, to open the 2025 campaign at Langhorst Field on Saturday (Feb. 8) afternoon.

The Bluejays improve to 1-0 with the victory, while Centre fell to 0-1 after dropping their opener.

The game was a back-and-forth affair throughout the first three quarters, with the score changing hands three different times. However, a dominant fourth period in which the Jays outscored the Colonels six goals to one, pulling away for a five-goal win.

Eli Spence led the way with five goals and four assists (nine total points), while Kaden Ames (three goals), Fischer Son/Pete Grebe (each two goals, one assist), and Brenden Crouse (one goal, two assists) contributed three points each. Tony Vazquez went 18-for-30 in face offs in the game while collecting a game-high 10 ground balls. Defensively, Noah Mickelson earned the start and win in goal, making 14 saves, while Gabe Henry caused a game-high five turnovers.

The Bluejays got the scoring started early, with Spence giving Elmhurst a 1-0 lead less than three minutes in. Centre answered with three-straight unanswered goals to go up 3-1, but Elmhurst was able to find the back of the net from Grebe and a man-up goal from Ames to knot the game at three after one period.

After a tough defensive battle in the first half of the second period, Centre found two quick goals in less than 30 seconds to take the lead. However, EU responded with a pair of goals of their own to knot the game at five. Grebe would score with a man-up at 2:12 in the second, and the Jays would take a 6-5 lead into the half.

The third period saw five ties and four lead changes, with Elmhurst leading by two goals, 11-9, with 2:16 left in the third. The Colonels would then find the back of the net twice in 10 seconds, tying the game at 11 with 15 minutes to go.

It was a dominant start to the fourth period for the Jays, with three-straight goals in the first five minutes to take a 14-11 lead. After a Centre goal cut the deficit back to two, the Bluejays would again add another three goals and play teriffic defense to take home the 17-12 home field victory in the season opener.

UP NEXT

Elmhurst hosts Concordia University Wisconsin at 5:00 pm this Wednesday, Feb. 12 on Langhorst Field. 

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