KENOSHA, WIS.—The Carthage College men's lacrosse team hosted Illinois Wesleyan University in a battle of the eight win teams on Saturday afternoon. The Titans entered Saturday's bout as the top ranked NCAA Division III squad in ground balls per game (53.90), points per game (34.60) and scoring offense (21.80). The Red Men's 11^th ranked 6.36 scoring defense tamed Illinois Wesleyan's high-powered offense in a 13-11 victory.
 
Andrew Krom fired a career-high four goals in the contest while Andy Szun and Luke Seydel each contributed a hat trick to the Red Men offense. Carthage out shot Illinois Wesleyan 44-29 in the contest.
 
Andy Meyers, whose .776 face off winning percentage this season ranks third in the country, went 18-of-28 from the circle against the Titans. He squared off against Illinois Wesleyan's J.C Grabarek, who entered Saturday ranked 11th in the country with a .708 faceoff percentage.
 
"It was a total team effort," said head men's lacrosse coach David Neff following the victory. "I think we were able to slow them down with Andy (Meyers) winning all the face offs while going against their guy who is also top 10 in the country in face offs. Being able to win those and the guys grinding on offense helped our defense get through that first half and hold on."
 
Red Men 13, Illinois Wesleyan 11
 
The Titans drew first blood when CCIW-leading scorer Michael Julius registered a goal at the 10:20 mark of the first quarter to make the score 1-0. The Red Men proceeded to outshoot Illinois Wesleyan 9-1 the remainder of the opening frame en route to a 5-1 lead. Andrew Krom scored three of the five Carthage goals in the frame while Billy Lane and Ethan Flight each contributed one.
 
The Red Men held Illinois Wesleyan to three shots throughout the second frame. Evan Mok-Lamme capitalized on one of those with a goal at the 12:35 mark of the second quarter to make the score 5-2. A five-of-six face off winning percentage coupled with a 12-3 shots advantage in the second quarter propelled Carthage to a 9-2 halftime lead. Flight, Luke Seydel, Krom and Andy Szun each tallied a goal for the Red Men in the second frame.
 
The Titans flipped the script with nine goals of their own in the second half. Flight (2), Szun and  Seydel scored the Red Men's four second-half goals to ice a 13-11 victory.
 
Carthage goalkeeper Ryan Smith tallied 10 saves in the complete-game victory.
 
The Red Men will return to action on Tuesday, April 11 at Elmhurst College. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.