Luke Liljenstolpe

Jack Gilio

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster men's lacrosse team moved to 4-0 in North Coast Athletic Conference play for the second straight season after a 12-9 victory over Kenyon College on Wednesday night at John P. Papp Stadium.

Behind a .704 faceoff win percentage, a career-best 10 groundballs from senior Jack Gilio, and a hat trick from sophomore Luke Liljenstolpe, the Fighting Scots (8-3, 4-0 NCAC) edged the Lords in a critical league game, as Wooster continues to compete for a top-three position in the conference standings.

After a game-opening goal from senior Alexander Bloom at the 13:32 mark, the Lords (6-4, 2-2 NCAC) rattled off three straight goals over the ensuing nine minutes. Junior Joe Altieri and senior Sam Kuhn brought the game level with back-to-back goals nearly a minute apart over the first period's final 3:27 to level the contest heading into the second period.

Again, Bloom opened the period's scoring just 23 seconds in off the pass from Altieri as part of a 4-2 Wooster run. The Scots enjoyed a 7-5 lead at the 4:24 mark before Kenyon's Josh Galardi cut the deficit to one with 2:27 remaining in the period.

Wooster's dominant third-period pattern continued as the Scots outscored Kenyon 4-2 in the frame. Liljenstople tallied two of his three in the third, followed by solo goals from sophomore Cullen Kuhn and Altieri.

Kenyon came back within two goals in the fourth, but a clutch finish from Sam Kuhn eased the pressure with 1:30 remaining as the Scots held on for the 12-9 win.

Sophomore goalkeeper Wesley Wagner ended with a season-best 13 saves and co-season-high five groundballs.

Up next, Wooster hosts DePauw University (4-8, 1-2 NCAC) on Saturday, April 7 at 1 p.m.