By: Athletic Communications Student Intern Joe Huff '21
BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University men's lacrosse team remains perfect as they beat Otterbein University in an Ohio Athletic Conference matchup by a final score of 17-4 inside Finnie Stadium on the Tressel Field.
BW (6-0, 4-0 OAC) was led senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC midfielder Nick Nanosky (Medina) who finished with a career-best four goals. Freshman attack Jake Nanosky (Medina) finished with three goals and a career-best six assists for a career-best nine points. Sophomore midfielder Olin Ferguson (Tulsa, Okla./Booker T. Washington) and freshman attacker Zakary Kroeger (Cinicinnati/Archbishop Moeller) each finished with two goals. Kroeger also added an assist.
Otterbein (4-2, 3-1 OAC) had four players each finish with one goal. Senior midfielder Nawny Bailey, senior midfielder Quinn Nicodemus, senior midfielder Ben Lewis, and freshman attacker Aidan Moore were the four that found the back of the net.
The Yellow Jackets attack came out hot. The defense came out swarming as BW went on a 2-0 run that spanned over 13 minutes into the game. Senior midfielder Ethan Miller (Delaware) and freshman attacker Gunner MacMillan (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush Henrietta) produced the two goals. The Cardinals bounced back with a goal of their own by Moore with 1:33 remaining in the quarter. BW was able to respond when Fergusonrifled one into the back of the net to end the scoring in the quarter.
The Yellow Jackets came out pressuring the Otterbein defense in the second as they started off with another 2-0 run. The first goal came from Jake Nanosky and Nick Nanosky followed up with the second goal. The Cardinals put an end to the run with Lewis scoring with 11:22 remaining to cut the BW lead down to 5-2. The Yellow Jackets responded with another 2-0 run. Senior midfielder Gage Schneider (Hamburg, N.Y.) and sophomore Jonas Aquilla (Westlake/St. Edward) both ripped one into the back of the net. Otterbein responded once again with Nicodemus hitting the back of the net. BW ended the half on a 3-0 run. The run was capped off by Nick Nanosky with 3:08 remaining to put the Yellow Jackets up 10-7.
Otterbein started off scoring half scoring when Bailey hit the back of the cage with 9:59 remaining in the quarter. BW held the Cardinals scoreless the rest of the quarter while adding 4 goals. Nick Nanosky led the way for the yellow Jackets scoring two goals. Freshman attackers Parker Ruggles (Westfield, Ind.) and Jake Nanosky each added a goal of their own.
BW continued their run into the fourth, scoring three goals, to end the run on a 7-0 run. The defense was swarming, holding Otterbein scoreless. Kroeger scored two goals during the quarter. Sophomore attacker Kaleb Delaney (Buffalo, N.Y./Akron) scored the last goal of the game with 1:04 left in the half.
In the cage, sophomore goalkeeper Joe Storner (Louisville, Ky/St. Xavier) made nine saves on the 13 shots he faced.
The Yellow Jackets are back in action on April 3rd when they host Mount Union University at 5:00 p.m. in the second game of an OAC doubleheader.
