Elmhurst Wins First-Ever Lacrosse Championship

Elmhurst University's men's lacrosse team just made history in the best possible way, defeating the dynasty that had denied them three times before.

The Bluejays crushed Illinois Wesleyan 19-9 on Saturday to claim their first-ever College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin tournament championship. The victory was especially sweet after falling to the same team in the championship finals in 2019, 2024, and 2025.

Hunter Hernandez led the offensive explosion with seven goals, while two-time conference Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year Eli Spence added six more. The Bluejays controlled the game from the opening faceoff, building an insurmountable lead that turned their championship dreams into reality.

The tournament title completes a perfect season of firsts for Elmhurst. Just weeks earlier, they claimed their first outright regular season conference title in program history.

Illinois Wesleyan entered the final as the tournament's most successful program, having won the previous three championships. The Titans had appeared in more championship games than any other team in conference history, but Saturday belonged entirely to the Bluejays.

The Ripple Effect

Elmhurst's breakthrough shows what persistence and belief can accomplish. After three crushing defeats in championship games, the team could have lost confidence or momentum.

Instead, they used those losses as fuel. The program built steadily, developing talent like Spence and Hernandez while strengthening their defense around reigning Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year Tony Vazquez.

The victory means more than trophies. Elmhurst now represents their conference in the NCAA Division III Championship, giving the entire program its biggest stage yet. Players who stuck with the team through painful losses now get to celebrate an achievement no Elmhurst lacrosse player has experienced before.

Even academics got their moment. Senior Sean Cherry earned the Elite 26 award for posting the highest GPA among all championship game participants, proving excellence extends beyond the field.

The win reminds us that heartbreak often comes right before breakthrough, and the teams that keep showing up eventually get their turn to celebrate.