Box Score The Spartan men's soccer team took on the rival Eagles of Benedictine University on a cold and wet Vago Field Wednesday afternoon and AU held on to a 3-1 win over the visitors.

AU got on the scoreboard early in the first-half of play when senior Matt Houghtaylen found the back of the BU goal off an assist from freshman Jason O'Brien. Houghtaylen's fifth goal of the year was a header off a throw in.

Only 11 minutes later the Spartans struck again on a throw in from O'Brien. O'Brien's toss found sophomore defender Brett Wegleitner who tapped the ball to a wide open senior forward Jim Kelly who knocked home his third goal of the season giving AU a commanding 2-0 lead.

The teams battled the conditions and a heated rivalry the remainder of the first half and entered the half-time intermission with AU in the lead 2-0.

In the 70th minute of action, AU would light the lamp once again when senior midfielder Victor Ramirez dished a pass to junior Xavier Carrillo. Carrillo tallied his fifth goal of the season giving AU a 3-0 lead.

The Spartan offense controlled the contest with senior AU goalkeeper Nick Sloan having few chances come his way courtesy of the BU offense.

With 13 minutes left of the game clock, BU would break the Spartan shut out attempt when a foul was called in the box setting up a penalty kick for the Eagles.

BU junior Creighton Goss took the PK and scored past a diving Sloan for the only goal the Eagles would be able to muster on the afternoon.

AU wound down the clock in the final minutes and held on to the important 3-1 Northern Athletics Conference victory.

The win improves AU to 7-8-1 overall and 6-3 in the NAC.