Top-seeded Ohio Wesleyan (14-3) will host second-seeded Denison (14-5) in the 2025 NCAC Men's Lacrosse Tournament final as both teams collected quarterfinal wins Wednesday afternoon. The Battling Bishops captured an 11-10 victory over fourth-seeded Oberlin (11-5), while the Big Red defeated third-seeded Wooster (9-9), 19-7. This year's tournament title game will be played on Saturday, May 3, at Ohio Wesleyan's Selby Stadium at 1:00 p.m.
#1 OHIO WESLEYAN (14-3) 11, #4 OBERLIN (11-5) 10
- In a thrilling semifinal matchup, Ohio Wesleyan edged Oberlin 11-10 to advance to the 2025 NCAC Tournament finale.
- The Battling Bishops struck first with a goal from senior attackman Carson Geier (Milford, OH/Milford), which was assisted by senior attackman Will Siegenthaler (Elmhurst, IL/York). Sophomore midfielder Henry Ross (Snoqualmie, WA/Mount Si) made it 2-0 at the 3:44 mark, but Oberlin first-year defender Cooper Rand (Northfield, MN/Northfield) responded just 56 seconds later to cut the deficit to 2-1 before the end of the first quarter.
- The Yeomen opened the second period with back-to-back goals from first-year attackmen Nicholas Cuda (Pittsburgh, PA/Kiski Prep) and Cooper Zancosky (Pittsburgh, P/Pine-Richland), giving Oberlin its first lead of the game at 3-2. The teams traded goals for the remainder of the half, with Ross' second tally putting OWU ahead 5-4 at the break.
- After the break, Oberlin controlled possession and outscored Ohio Wesleyan 5-2 in the third quarter. Junior attackman Solomon Brennan (Montclair, NJ/Montclair) and Zancosky struck early in the quarter to give Oberlin a 6-5 edge, while OWU sophomore attacker Wade Beckstrom (Devon, PA/Conestoga) tied the game at 6-6. The Yeomen closed the period strong, scoring twice in the final two minutes to take a 9-7 lead into the fourth.
- Junior attackman Jacob Starcke (Northport, NY/Northport) opened the final period with a goal at 14:15 to give Oberlin a three-goal cushion at 10-7, before Ohio Wesleyan responded with a relentless comeback. Senior midfielder Joey Wiseman (Powel, OH/Olentagny Liberty) and Beckstrom found the back of the net to put the Bishops within one. Ross completed the rally with the game-tying goal at 2:14, and followed with the game-winner with just 46 seconds remaining in regulation.
- Oberlin had two looks in the final moments, but OWU senior goalkeeper Nathan George (Gainesville, VA/Battlefield) secured the win with a crucial save in the final four seconds.
- Ohio Wesleyan's Ross led all scorers with four goals and one assist for five points, while Wiseman and Beckstrom recorded two goals apiece. Defensively, the Battling Bishops were led by George who finished with 14 saves and a .583 save percentage.
- Oberlin's Zancosky led the Yeomen with three goals and three assists, while first-year Evan Sardina (Charlestown, M/Boston Latin School) controlled the face-off X, winning 19-25 attempts.
- As a team, Oberlin outshot Ohio Wesleyan 43-36 and held a 32-28 advantage in ground balls.
#2 DENISON (13-5) 19, #3 WOOSTER (9-8) 7
- Denison defeated Wooster 19-7 to advance to the 2025 NCAC Tournament finale.
- Wooster jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first quarter behind goals from sophomore midfielder John Allen Ginder (Jacksonville, FL/The Bolles School) and senior midfielder Will Fink (Western Springs, IL/Lyons Township). Denison responded as junior midfielder Michael Cassidy (Lake Bluff, IL/Lake Forest) put the Big Red on the board. Senior midfielder Jack Hines (Charlotte, NC/Episcopal) then netted the equalizer for Denison to tie the game at 2-2.
- At the 7:34 mark, sophomore midfielder Brady Monturio (Medfield, MA/Medfield) gave Denison its first lead of the afternoon, but Ginder answered for Wooster just over a minute later to make it 3-3. Less than 35 seconds later, the Big Red quickly regained the lead with senior attackman Tommy Quinson (Rye Brook, NY/Brunswich School) scoring off an assist from junior attackman Kevin Berutich (Fisher, IN/Cathedral) to make it 4-3. That goal sparked a surge, as first-year midfielder Jacob Campen (Jacksonville, FL/The Bolles School) added another score, helping Denison close the first quarter with an 8-3 advantage.
- In the second quarter, the Scots scored twice, thanks to goals by senior attackman Colton Beaudoin (Rolling Hills Estates, CA/Palos Verdes) and senior midfielder Renick Wiltshire (Chapel Hill, NC/Chapel Hill), but the Big Red continued to trudge forward, closing the first half with a 13-5 lead.
- Denison's defense locked in during the third quarter, holding Wooster scoreless, while allowing just six shots. Wooster first-year goalie Case Lowery (Avon, OH/Avon) made four saves to limit Denison to two goals in the period, as the Big Red carried a commanding 15-5 lead into the fourth.
- In the final quarter, Wooster tallied goals from first-year defender Domenic Cuda (Latrobe, PA/The Kiski School) and Beaudoin, but Denison added four more scores to seal the 19-7 victory.
- Denison's Hines led all scorers with four goals and one assist for five points. Quinson and Monturio each recorded hat tricks, and Berutich paced the offense with six assists. Together, Denison face-off specialists, junior Grant Larson (Charlotte, NC/Charlotte County Day School) and senior Colin MacLean (Andover, MA/Andover), won 23-of-29 faceoffs while junior goalkeeper Andrew Albert (Weston, CT/The Hill School (PA)) recorded five saves in the win.
- Wooster was led by Beaudoin and Allen Grinder with two goals each, and Cuda, who recorded a game-high seven caused turnovers.
- As a team, Denison outshot Wooster 48-23 and held a 39-26 advantage in ground balls. Wooster led in caused turnovers with 16, compared to Denison's 14.