By: Athletic Communications Student Assistant Joe Meyer '24

ADA, Ohio - The Baldwin Wallace University men's lacrosse team used a second-half surge to extend its winning streak to a program record-tying 13 games and take down Ohio Northern University in an Ohio Athletic Conference contest by a final score of 9-5 inside Dial-Roberson Stadium.

BW (13-2, 7-0 OAC) was led by a stellar defensive effort that kept the Polar Bears off the board for the final 39 minutes of the game. Senior All-OAC goalkeeper Joe Storner (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) anchored the defensive charge with a ten-save performance, stopping the last nine shots he faced after the Yellow Jackets went down 5-3 early in the second quarter. 

Senior All-OAC midfielder Jonas Aquilla (Westlake/St. Edward) led all players with three goals. Freshman attack/midfielder Bennet Trout (Pickerington/North) matched Aquilla's point total with two goals and an assist and scored the tying and game-winning goals for the Yellow Jackets. 

ONU (10-3, 5-2 OAC) was led by sophomore attack Caleb Bennet, as he scored two goals and recorded the only multi-point performance of the night for the Polar Bears. ONU senior goalkeeper Cole Zaferakis recorded 13 saves in the losing effort. 

FIRST QUARTER

• 11:47 - ONU struck first on a goal by Caleb Bennett.
• 11:13 - Just 34 seconds later, freshman attack/midfield Reichen Geiselhart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) scored to tie the game at one, assisted by Trout.
• 9:18 - The Polar Bears took advantage of a man-up opportunity and retook the lead on a goal by
• Sebastian Michaud.
• 2:50 - ONU's Bennett grabbed his second of the quarter to make it a 3-1 game.
• 1:15 - BW cut the lead to one after a goal by junior All-OAC attack Jake Nanosky (Medina), assisted by Gieselhart.
• 0:02 - ONU's Riley O'Neal beat the buzzer, putting the Polar Bears ahead 4-2 after one.

SECOND QUARTER

• 14:17 - Aquilla scored on the opening possession of the second, pulling BW within one.
• 9:49 - The Polar Bears added another goal, courtesy of Ethan Hojnacki.
• 5:19 - Senior All-OAC attack/midfielder Jake Branton (Marysville) tallied his first goal of the season for the Yellow Jackets.
• 1:27 - Trout tied the game at five with his team-leading 27th goal of the season.

THIRD QUARTER

• 8:12 - The Yellow Jackets took their first lead on Trout's second goal of the night.
• BW controlled the majority of play in the third and outshot ONU 12-4 in the quarter, but Trout's tally would prove to be the only goal of the period. 

FOURTH QUARTER

• 10:08 - Aquilla's second goal of the night gave BW a two-goal lead, assisted by junior attack/midfield Keaton Trout (Pickerington/North).
• 7:12 - Aquila scored again to make it a hat trick, giving BW an 8-5 lead.
• 2:25 - Nanosky capped the scoring with his second goal of the game, assisted by senior attack/midfielder Kyler Byerly (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny).
• The Yellow Jackets held their opponents to a scoreless half for a fifth time this season, with Storner recording eight saves in the second half to seal BW's 9-5 victory.

The Yellow Jackets will go for a program-record 14th consecutive win on Saturday, April 22, as they host Marietta College in an OAC and Seniors' Night game on the Tressel Field inside George Finnie Stadium. Opening faceoff is set for 7:00 p.m.