By: Athletic Communications Student Assistant Joe Meyer '24

BEREA, Ohio - The Baldwin Wallace University men's lacrosse team dropped a thriller to crosstown rival John Carroll University after a late goal in the 2023 OAC Tournament Championship Game. The top-seeded Yellow Jackets fell to the second-seeded Blue Streaks by a final score of 6-5, the lowest-scoring game in OAC Championship history, on the Tressel Field inside George Finnie Stadium.

The title game loss for BW (16-3) snaps a program-record 16-game winning streak following an 0-2 start to the season, which included an 8-4 win over JCU in the rivals' regular season tilt on March 29. 

Freshman attacker/midfielder Bennet Trout (Pickerington/North) led the Yellow Jackets, recording two goals and an assist. His second goal of the game, which gave BW a 5-4 lead with 14 minutes to play, was his 36th of the year.

The Yellow Jackets' defense, which currently ranks first in the nation in average goals against, delivered another impressive performance despite the loss. Anchored by senior All-OAC goalkeeper Joe Storner (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier), who recorded 11 saves in the final, BW held JCU scoreless for two separate stretches of over 15 minutes. BW's other star defender, senior All-American, All-OAC, and Academic All-OAC Neil Randall notched two caused turnovers in the contest, which marks 140 in his career, making him the All-Time Leader in Career Caused Turnovers in BW men's lacrosse history. 

JCU (14-2) was led by senior goalkeeper Jon Gaglio, as he stopped 11 of the 16 shots he faced. Nine different players tallied one point apiece for the Blue Streaks. 

FIRST QUARTER

• 6:10 - Junior attacker/midfielder Keaton Trout (Pickerington/North) found a cutting junior attacker/midfielder Hunter Boehm (Delaware/Olentangy), who scored to break the deadlock. 

SECOND QUARTER

• 12:49 - A BW goal by senior All-OAC attacker/midfielder Jake Branton (Marysville) doubled the lead, assisted by senior All-OAC midfielder Jonas Aquilla (Westlake/St. Edward).
• 11:59 - After being held scoreless for the opening 18 minutes, JCU got on the board with a goal by junior midfielder Max Cook.
• 9:05 & 8:06 - The Blue Streaks scored twice in 59 seconds, taking a 3-2 lead after goals by freshman attack Colin Morrissey and freshman defender Camden Uchic.
• 0:04 - Aquilla found the back of the net with a long-range bounce shot as time ran down, tying the game at three heading into halftime. 

THIRD QUARTER

• 6:12 - JCU retook the lead on a goal by freshman midfielder Josh Lombardo.
• 1:32 - BW's responded minutes later, tying the game on a brother-to-brother connection, as Keaton Trout found Bennet Trout, who fired one past the JCU goalie.

FOURTH QUARTER

• 14:04 - The Yellow Jackets retook the lead on Bennet Trout's freshman record-breaking 36th goal of the year, assisted by freshman midfielder Ian Shealy (Westerville/Central).
• 13:56 - JCU freshman midfielder Nicholas Yemma won the ensuing faceoff, then raced downfield and slotted a shot into the back of the net to tie the game at five.
• 2:56 - JCU senior attacker Matt Berdysiak scored the game-winner on a man-up opportunity with just under three minutes to go, and the Blue Streaks held on for a 6-5 victory.

The Yellow Jackets will await news of a potential at-large berth to the NCAA Division III men's lacrosse tournament. The selection show will air tomorrow, Sunday, May 7 at 9:00 p.m. on NCAA.com.