The Aurora University Spartan men's soccer team opened up AU homecoming weekend festivities by defeated the visiting Crusaders of Maranatha Baptist Bible College 2-0 on a rainy and chilly afternoon at Vago Field.
For the Spartans, the shutout win marked AU's sixth of the season and the ninth game the Spartans have played in that has concluded in a shutout of some sort.
The two Northern Athletics Conference opponents played a defensive minded contest in the opening half, heading into intermission tied 0-0.
Despite out-shooting Maranatha in the opening frame 12 to one, only one of the 12 Spartan shots was on goal.
The Spartans broke the scoreless tie just under 15 minutes into the second half when junior midfielder Anthony Amedei's crossing pass found a diving sophomore midfielder Sean McGinnis. McGinnis' header beat Crusader freshman goalkeeper James Widner to the near post. The goal was McGinnis' second of the season.
After more defensive action in the next 26 minutes, junior midfielder Mike Emma found the back of the net off an assist from senior midfielder Justin Pederson.
Spartan freshman goalkeeper Ethan Cashen preserved the shutout, he had one save in the win.
This victory moves the Spartans to 6-5-1 overall, 2-4 in the NAC and the loss drops the Crusaders to 4-6, 1-5 in the NAC.
