SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College men's lacrosse team lost a nonconference game against two-time defending Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference regular season champion Wilmington University 15-8 to open its 2026 season on Wednesday, February 11.

AIC is 0-1 to start the campaign.

The Wildcats roared early, scoring the game's first five goals in the first 7:54. AIC got on the board and quickly closed the gap, with a Jacob Ligor strike from Seven Gillingham opening the season tally for the Yellow Jackets. Joe Liquori followed with his first collegiate goal, set up by Dameer Phifer on a breakout play, and Gillingham then connected with Jordan Boyenko to get AIC within a two-goal margin. The Wildcats did score on a last-second chance to lead 6-3 after one.

Wilmington scored the first three of the second early on, but AIC settled in after that and made some key defensive plays which, along with stops by Nick Kendall, slowed the Wildcats offense. AIC scored the final goal of the quarter, a Matt Smith finish from Gillingham that had AIC down 9-4 at the break.

The first 11 minutes of the third was a defensive slog, with just one goal for Wilmington during that stretch, but Boyenko's second, a man-up marker from Gillingham at 11:02, started a run of goals. The duo connected for another goal, giving Boyenko a hat trick, while the Wildcats scored two more and led 12-6 after three.

After a quick Wildcats goal to start the fourth, Gillingham showed off his goal-scoring prowess with a fantastic individual effort before feeding Boyenko one more time for his sixth assist and Boyenko's fourth tally of the game. The visitors scored the last two, however, and earned the 15-8 win.

Kendall completed the game with a career-high 18 saves. 

AIC will next host Caldwell University on Saturday, February 14 at 2:00 p.m.