DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque lacrosse team squared off with the CCIW preseason favorite on Saturday afternoon, where the Spartans would fall to the Titans, 26-6.

Illinois Wesleyan scored three goals in the opening four minutes and there was not much the Spartans could do to slow down the conference leaders for the remainder of the game. Will Kowalewski put an end to the quick 3-0 burst from the Titans, getting the Spartans on the board in the 6th minute for off a pass from Nikolas Wortman

Illinois Wesleyan would rattle off 11 of the final 13 goals in the first period but the top highlight of the game for Spartans came exactly 10 minutes into the first quarter. UD goalie Ryan Gartner caught Illinois Wesleyan's goalie away from his net and launched a shot the length of the field right into the back of the net for the Spartans second goal and Gartner's first career goal. 

The UD scoring would decrease each quarter, scoring three in the opening frame, two in the second, one in the third and none in the fourth. The six UD goals were scored by six different Spartans.

Gartner would be pelted with 79 shots from Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon, coming up with 25 saves on the 51 shots on net. 

The Spartans hit the road on Wednesday, April 21 for a 7:30 start at Elmhurst, before returning home for the final home game of the season next Saturday, April 24 at 1 p.m. against Carroll.