In order to prepare for the spring season, NIU lacrosse hosted the Fall Classic Tournament.

The Huskies finished third in the 24th annual tournament.

The Huskies (5-2), won their first game over Loyola, 10-3.

NIU got off to a good start offensively, leading 3-0 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Huskies continued to control the ball, which helped them get a 5-2 at halftime.

Not much changed after the halftime break, as the Huskies outscored the Ramblers 5-1.

NIU sophomore attack Tyler Nicholson scored two goals in the victory and said controlling the ball was key to victory.

“We had the ball on the offensive side for probably most of the game,” Nicholson said, “Even when they took it onto their offensive side, the defense got it right back.”

Huskies’ sophomore attack Mike Walczak had a hat trick in the victory. In the semifinals match, NIU faced Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The two teams combined scored eight goals, and Wisconsin-Whitewater won 5-3. The Huskies had a hard time getting anything going offensively. Wisconsin-Whitewater controlled the ball, and the Huskies were always playing defense.

Sophomore attack Tony Chavez said the Huskies got off to a slow start.

“We came out kind of flat,” Chavez said. “Our heads weren’t in the game.”

The Huskies were able to rebound quickly after the loss, winning the third-place game 7-4 against Northern Michigan.

NIU’s offense got off to a much faster start in the second game. The Huskies led 3-2 after the first quarter. Chavez led the way for NIU with three goals in the victory.

“Well, our attack line was working real well together and making nice passes, and everyone else was cutting on the team,” Chavez said. “And that made a lot of openings, and I just kept finding it on crease. I was able to put them in the back of the net.”