HANOVER — Wabash outscored Hanover 10-6 over the final 30 minutes of the opening men’s lacrosse match of 2025 to claim a 17-12 road victory to start the season.
Wabash (1-0) got four goals from Quinn Fitzgerald and Charlie Rafalko to pace the Little Giants’ offense. Blake Stephens, Will Sorg, and Cooper Navarro each scored two goals. Luka DiFilippo, Sam Santiago, and Jake Pippen scored one goal apiece.
Wabash trailed 1-0 before Stephens struck for the first goal of the season for the Little Giants to tie the game at 1-1. Hanover (1-1) regained the lead with a second goal before Navarro’s first goal of his Wabash career to tie the game once again. Another goal for the Panthers was answered by Pippen for a 3-3 tie before Fitzgerald scored his first goal on a man advantage for the Little Giants to put Wabash in front.
Fitzgerald scored again to put Wabash up 6-3, but Hanover rallied for three consecutive goals to tie the score once again. Rafalko tallied his first goal of the game with 25 seconds remaining in the half to put Wabash up 7-6 at the break.
The Little Giants scored two quick goals in the third period on shots from Fitzgerald and Rafalko to move in front 9-6. Hanover got as close as one goal before a flurry of scoring from Stephens, DiFilippo, and Navarro, along with a man-up goal from Rafalko put Wabash up 13-8. Three more Little Giant goals in the fourth quarter put Wabash in front 17-9 before Hanover finished the game with three goals in the final four minutes.
Fitzgerald tacked on a team-best three assists. Sorg and Navarro each gave out two assists. Bryce Poling and Lucas Cunningham paced the defense with two caused turnovers apiece. DiFilippo scooped up 10 ground balls and won 22 of 31 faceoffs for Wabash.
Goalkeeper Colin Krekeler recorded eight saves to earn his first victory in goal for the season.
Wabash opens the home portion of the season next Saturday with a 1 p.m. contest at Fischer Field against Earlham College.
