Box Score
GRANVILLE, Ohio-- No. 5 Denison overwhelmed Illinois Wesleyan out of the gates, scoring 11 of the game's first 12 goals in the first 18 minute of the contest. The result was a convincing 25-11 victory that propels Denison into the NCAA quarterfinals for the third time in four years and the 14th time, overall. The Big Red will host Lynchburg on Wednesday (May 17) at Piper Stadium. A start time will be determined on Monday.
In the first 1:37 of play, the Big Red took a 4-0 lead behind quick-strike goals by Spencer Butler, Liam Rooney, Henry DeCamp and Ben Duhoski. Fittingly, it was Butler who scored the game's first goal. He went on to score 11 goals, breaking the Denison single-game scoring record and the NCAA Division III Tournament scoring record. The D-III Tournament record was eight, set by four different individuals. The Denison record was 10, set by Chris Wolfington in 1990.
Butler ended with 11 goals, but his teammate, Rooney, tied him for the team lead in points thanks to his four goal, seven assist effort. Rooney has 80 assists and 36 goals this season. His career points total has risen to 272 in 66 career games played.
In the first quarter, Illinois Wesleyan was winning faceoffs but they failed to maintain possession long enough to get into a settled offensive set. Duhoski had five caused turnovers in the game. As a team, DU caused 14 of IWU's 29 turnovers. The ground ball game was dominated by the Big Red as they won the category 45-26. Josh Happ, DeCamp, Richie Bartozzi and Sam Dyson all had four ground balls to lead the squad.
Stephen Paras got the start and played the first half in goal. He had two saves while allowing six goals. Will Howard played the final 30 minutes and had five saves while allowing five goals.
Denison outshot the Titans, 61-28 and was 20-of-25 when clearing the ball. Denison's top-ranked man-up unit was 4-of-7. In the fourth quarter, Butler's ninth goal of the night was of the shorthanded variety off a feed from Rooney.
Illinois Wesleyan was led in scoring by Michael Julius who finished with four goals and one assist. Nick Winter had two goals and two assists while J.C. Grabarek went 19-of-40 on faceoffs. Titan goalie Steven Laduzinsky had 15 saves in 60 minutes of work.
Denison improves to 17-1 while running their winning streak to 17 games. Lynchburg advanced to the quarterfinals after a 10-8 win over York in the third round.
