Sangamon Sun

The Illinois College Blueboys achieved a significant win against Ashland University in the MEC playoffs. The Blueboys, holding the fifth seed, defeated their fourth-seeded opponent 2-0 in a best-of-three crew battle.

In the first game, both teams engaged in close competition, exchanging early stocks. Jake Petrovich played a crucial role, creating a turning point with a 6-stock performance. Julian Luaders secured the victory with a critical 5-stock contribution as the anchor, concluding the match at 1-0.

The second game found Illinois College in firm control, as Petrovich continued his strong performance, achieving 9 stocks to lead the team to a 3-0 victory. Contributions from Daniel Scott, Devin Ussert, and Luaders supported the team's successful sweep.

Petrovich's strategic switch from Marth to Falco resulted in a cumulative 16 stocks, becoming a key element in the Blueboys' triumph. Luaders’ consistent role as an anchor also played a significant part in securing the victories.

Despite being the lower seed, Illinois College and Ashland University entered the match with identical records, with Ashland holding a tiebreaker advantage.

Following this victory, Illinois College is poised for a critical matchup against Michigan State. A win in this upcoming contest would propel them into the Upper Finals and secure a place in the MEC Championship LAN.