Oberlin, Ohio - After a historic season filled with record-breaking performances, upset victories, and team and individual milestones, the Oberlin College men's lacrosse team finished their season as the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Runner-Ups. The Yeomen fell 12-4 to No. 2 Ohio Wesleyan on Bailey Field, to finish the season 12-6; the most wins in a single season in program history.
Landing on the All-Tournament team was
Solomon Brennan,
Nicholas Cuda,
Evan Sardina, and
Cooper Rand. In addition to his one goal in the Tournament Semifinal, Brennan led the team with three goals tonight, bringing his career total to 123; the fifth-most in program history. Defensively, Rand tallied three ground balls and three caused turnovers, while
Colin Taylor added another trio of CTOs to the Yeomen backline. Sardina went 12-18 on the face-off, scooping five ground balls.
After a scoreless first quarter,
Andrew Rosa put Oberlin on the board with a rocket off a pass form
Asher Friedman. The momentum was short lived, however, as the Battling Bishops scored back-to-back goals in the final minutes of the half.
Looking to bounce back from a 7-1 deficit, the Crimson and Gold opened the third quarter with a pair of goals. After Taylor caused a turnover on defense, Rand picked up the loose ball to clear it downfield. Brennan's first shot hit the post, but after
Jacob Starcke secured the rebound, Brennan connected with the back of the net for the score. Seconds later, Brennan scored again after a clean face-off win from Sardina. Building momentum, Oberlin brushed off another OWU goal with Brennan's third of the night, coming off a face-off win and ground ball for Rand.
The deficit cut to four, the Yeomen battled through the final quarter, but struggled to convert their shots to goals. Their best chance came after
Manolis Paragioudakis grabbed a ground balls and connected with the attack. Rosa's first shot soared wide, but a stretched out shot from Friedman almost snuck past the OWU goalie. The Battling Bishops held the Yeomen off in the final minutes of action, scoring a trio of goals more and clinching the NCAC Tournament Final in 12-4 fashion.
The 2026 season has been nothing short of historic for the Crimson and Gold. With wins over Denison and then-ranked No. 20 Ohio Wesleyan, the Yeomen defeated their conference rivals for the first time in over 50 years. Clinching a No. 1 seed to the NCAC Tournament was a program-first, highlighted by the team's first NCAC Tournament victory and Tournament Final appearance. Additionally, the Yeomen's 12 wins this year mark the most in a single-season in program history. Starcke will graduate as the program's leading scorer, with 191 goals and 226 points.
Oberlin looks ahead to fall ball and the 2027 season, where they'll return a deep roster and look to make another historic postseason run.
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