GAMBIER, Ohio -- After finishing their non-conference campaign with a flawless 7-0 record, the Kenyon College men's lacrosse team was ready to open their North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) slate by matching up against a familiar foe in Ohio Wesleyan University. However, the game played out incredibly unfamiliarly as the teams endured severe winds, sudden downpours, and a lightning delay before eventually playing most of the second half without a visible game clock or scoreboard. As the teams navigated the challenging conditions, the Battling Bishops (5-3) prevailed with a 10-8 victory for their first NCAC win, while the Owls fell to 7-1 and 0-1 against NCAC competition.

Few could have predicted the final score after Kenyon jumped out to an impressive start. The Owls scored four unanswered goals early in the opening period, including three in a 44-second spurt, to go up 4-0 with 7:16 left in the first quarter. Rollins Heath, David Chintala, Jack Giuffre, and Rowan Goldin got in on the action as Kenyon was firing on all cylinders. However, no one could have predicted what would happen next, and it played a significant role in turning the game around.

High winds blew a thunderstorm into range between the first and second quarters, forcing the teams to head inside for nearly an hour. After the unexpected break, the Battling Bishops came out hot with two quick scores to cut Kenyon's lead in half. The high-scoring second period yielded eight goals as OWU outscored Kenyon 5-3, but the Owls maintained a 7-5 edge at halftime.

After Adam Hall saved a quick OWU shot, Giuffre immediately got the Owls back on track in the third frame. Kenyon's offense cleared the ball and got into position quickly, allowing Connor Doughty to assist Giuffre on his third goal of the game. The 8-5 advantage on the scoreboard was short-lived, though, as the scoreboard and surrounding area lost power, pausing the action.

The teams decided to continue after hashing out the details, and, with nothing but cellphone timers and people shouting out the shot and game clocks, the teams resumed play with about 11 minutes left in the third quarter. Unfortunately for Kenyon, the Battling Bishops shored things up and turned the tide in the unconventional atmosphere.

The visitors scored three straight to close the third, tying the game on a man-up goal late in the frame. The Battling Bishops capitalized on another extra-man opportunity midway through the fourth quarter to take their first lead. Another OWU goal with 5:23 left was the game's last, providing the final 10-8 margin of victory.

Kenyon outshot Ohio Wesleyan 11-8 in the final frame, but the Owls put just two attempts on goal while OWU was on target on five shots. The Battling Bishops were 3-7 on extra-man opportunities, but their equalizer and go-ahead score were both man-up goals. Kenyon was 1-4 with an extra man, going 1-3 in the second frame.

Giuffre provided a game-high four points thanks to a game-best three goals with one assist. Finn Murray grabbed four ground balls and led all players with two caused turnovers. In goal, Hall secured 11 saves, his third straight game in double digits. 

The Owls return to The Field at Benson Bowl in one week to face their season's toughest test. Kenyon welcomes No. 12-ranked Denison University (6-1, 1-0 NCAC) to Gambier at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 1, for a rematch of the 2022 NCAC Tournament Championship, in which the Big Red prevailed.