Unfamiliar, however, was the team’s coaching situation that accompanied the end of the season. Head Coach Doug Shanahan and Assistant Coach Vince Smith announced their departure from the team for both personal and family reasons. The summer coaching search did not last long, however, and recent team alumni Joe Dodson was appointed head coach for the upcoming season.

Coach Dodson’s first test from the sideline came this past weekend, as the Fighting Illini traveled to Purdue University to take part in the Big Ten Tournament. The Illini played their first game of the fall against the Boilermakers, who brought a 2-3 preseason record into the tournament.

The first game of the day started slowly for both teams, with the Illini and the Boilermakers trading goals on what turned out to be a perfect autumn morning. Tied at halftime, the Illini came out hard in the second half and put Purdue away 6-4.

Following the morning game, the team had a short break for lunch and snacks before facing Ohio State University’s club lacrosse team. The Buckeyes presented an unfamiliar foe, being both out of conference and not a member of the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association.

The Illini, dressed in their white game shorts and white practice jerseys, did not take the Buckeyes lightly. Energized by the short break between games, the team scored early and often, taking it to the worn out Buckeyes, who had just come off a double overtime victory over Purdue.

With Doug Sutherland and Steve Arendt controlling the faceoffs and both the midfielders and attack unit getting in on the scoring action, the Illini came away with a comfortable 9-0 victory.

This win set the Illinois lacrosse team up for an appearance against Ohio University in the championship game on Sunday. Ohio University defeated the University of Wisconsin 7-6 and Indiana University 7-4 to win both of their Saturday games on the opposite side of the bracket.

A good night’s sleep at a hotel just off campus provided the Illini with all the rest they needed to take on OU Sunday morning. The green-clad Ohio Bobcats enlisted their deep roster to get off to a fast start, trading goals with the Fighting Illini on yet another beautiful fall morning.

Taking a 4-3 lead into halftime behind the leadership of senior goalie Joe Lucido and multiple man-up opportunities, Coach Dodson stressed the importance of finishing the game with energy and effort.

The second half proved even more thrilling than the first. As the fourth quarter ticked to it’s final minutes, the Illini defense buckled down to hold off the desperate attempts of the Bobcats to slice into the Illini’s 7-5 lead.

The drama reached a high point when junior attackman Scott Pfiffner received a 3 minute non-releasable conduct penalty with just over two minutes left in the game. Despite a valiant defensive effort, Ohio University’s man-up offense was able to cut their deficit in half with a perfectly placed outside shot with a minute left.

Just as the momentum was seeming to swing Ohio’s way, defensive captain Phil Dodson was able to gain a ground ball and heave it up field to senior attackman Nate Prescott, who evaded several defenders before heaving a half-field pass to fellow attackman Joe O’Malley. O’Malley was able to work the ball to midfielder Stephen Black, who buried it to put the final nail in the Bobcat’s coffin and secure a 9-7 Illini victory.

As victors, the Illini shook hands with Ohio University’s players after the game, and then gathered at midfield for the Big Ten Tournament champion’s trophy presentation.

All in all, the Illini put forth a solid effort over the weekend and were able to land newly appointed head coach Joe Dodson the first three victories of his career. While winning the Big Ten Tournament was a significant step for the University of Illinois Men’s Lacrosse team, the men in Orange and Blue will continue to work hard throughout the fall and winter and look forward to bringing home more hardware by the end of May.