In this week's installment of the Spartan Weekly Preview, AU finds itself busy as softball, men's and woman's lacrosse, baseball, and men's and women's track all find themselves in action over the week. 

Men's lacrosse has a plethora of games this week:
The Spartans men's lacrosse team travels to Cincinnati, Ohio to play Midwest Lacrosse Conference (MLC) foe the College of Mount St. Joe. Aurora is 2-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play, and is lead by junior Max Obriecht (18 goals, seven assists and 49-73 on faceoff's) who is coming off a nine point game against Fontbonne University. College of Mount St. Joe is 1-8 overall on the year, and 0-3 in conference. The cougars are lead by Ryan Gallagher (16 goals, seven assists and 13 groundballs). Game time is set for 4:00 p.m. (EST).
 
On Friday, March 28 the Spartans host Division II opponent Adams State University.  Adams State is 3-2 overall on the year and are lead by Mike Telles (24 goals and four assists). This game will be the first time the Spartans play a Division II opponent in a season and are looking to show they can play against anyone.
 
The Spartans continue to face non-conference opponents on Sunday, March 30 when they face Trine University at the University of Notre Dame (IND). Last season the Spartans faced Trine University at Notre Dame and came away with a 17-3 Victory. In the programs short history, the Spartans have never lost to Trine University and they are looking to continue that stat. Trine is 0-7 overall this season, and they are lead by Jake Ahearn (five goals and nine groundballs). Game time is set for 12:00 p.m. (EST).
 
Women's lacrosse hosts non-conference opponent Linfield College:
The Spartans women's lacrosse team hosts Linfield College at Vago field on Thursday, March 27. This will be the first time these two young programs meet. Aurora is 1-4 overall and is looking for Freshman Lexi Wright (five goals and six groundballs) to lead them to their second victory of the year. Linfield is 0-8 on the year, and are looking for their first win behind Shelby Duarte (17 goals and two assists).  Game time is set for 4:30 P.M. at Vago Field.

Softball has three doubleheaders upcoming:
On Saturday, March 29 Aurora opens Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play with a doubleheader at home against Rockford University.  The past two seasons, the Spartans have won both doubleheaders by a combined score of 38-6.

Aurora is 3-7 overall and lead by senior Sarah Clauser (.242 batting average, one home run and eight runs batted in). Rockford is 2-8 in the 2014 season and Aurora will look to keep the streak against Rockford alive. Game times are set for 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. at Stuart Sports Complex. 
                                                                                                                                                                               
The Spartans have little rest after Rockford College as they face NACC conference foe Edgewood College Eagles in a double header on Sunday, March 30. The Spartans hope to continue their winning ways against the Eagles again this season. Aurora has defeated Edgewood in each of the doubleheader games the past two years. Edgewood is 8-5 overall this year and lead by Alyssa Shulting (.318 batting average, one home run and 12 runs batted in). Game times are set for 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. at Stuart Sports Complex.
 
Baseball will spend their weekend with a pair of conference doubleheaders:
The Spartans will have their first home games of the season with a doubleheader against NACC foe Marian University on Saturday, March 29. This contest will also be the first conference game this season for Aurora. Aurora is 4-11 overall this year and is lead by sophomore Dillon Popovich (.389 batting average, 16 runs batted in and two home runs).  Marian is 5-5 overall this year and they are lead by Adam Ryan (.360 batting average, eight runs batted in and one stolen base). The Spartans are looking to continue their winning streak against Marian University. Aurora has won each of the four games they have played in the past two seasons. Game times are set for 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Solfisburg Park.
 
The Spartans get no break as they travel to Milwaukee the very next day for a doubleheader against conference foe Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). MSOE is 4-6 overall and is lead by Derek Jordan (.324 batting average and three runs batted in).  Aurora won both doubleheader games against MSOE the past two seasons and are looking got keep that streak alive. Game times are set for  12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at MSOE.

Men's Track and Field open up the 2014 Outdoor Season
The Spartan men's track and field teams open up the 2014 outdoor season on Saturday at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Ill. at 11:00 a.m. The program is coming off a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Indoor Championship.

The Spartan men hope to open the outdoor season like they finished the indoor, scoring early and often in meets. AU has 29 individuals or relays that scored points in the indoor championships and 14 Spartans finished with medals. Keep an eye out for freshman Devin Thompson who was named the NACC Co-Field Athlete of the Meet and NACC Freshman of the Meet at the Indoor meet.  AU had five indoor conference championships with Thompson winning the long jump (6.58 meters) and triple jump (13.24 meters), Matt Meyers winning the mile run (4:27.99) and Kyle Kayzar winning the 800 meter (1:58.51). The distance medley relay of Malik Dorris, Nico Gonzalez, Kayzar and Drew Schmitt won with a time of 10:39.06, setting a new NACC Championships record.

Women's Track and Field open up the 2014 Outdoor Season
The Spartan women's track and field teams open up the 2014 outdoor season on Saturday at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Ill. at 11:00 a.m. The program is coming off a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Indoor Championship and also looking to defend their 2013 NACC Outdoor Championship crown.

Thirty-two individuals or teams (relays) who scored points in the Indoor Championships set to the outdoors looking to score for AU.  19 of these Spartan individual or teams brought home a medal (top three-finish).

AU swept the indoor meet awards with sophomore Talia Sheedlo being named the NACC Athlete and Field Athlete of the Meet, sophomore Emily Paull being named NACC Track Athlete of the Meet, and freshman Lisa Rodriguez taking home NACC Track Athlete and Freshman of the Meet. These three and a host of other Spartans are top performers to watch for the outdoor season.
 
Keep your eyes out for all the Spartans that won conference championships in 11 indoor events, including high jump (Jenna Taylor), pole vault (Rachel Burkhart), triple jump (Talia Sheedlo), 55 meter hurdles (Talia Sheedlo), 55 meter dash (Lisa Rodriguez), 200 meter (Lisa Rodriguez), 800 meter (Lena Palmer), mile run (Emily Paull), 3,000 meter (Emily Paull), the 4x400 meter relay (Loretta Johnson, Crystal Abernathy, Rodriguez and Paull), and the distance medley relay (Palmer, Breana Balaskovits, Emily Probst and Saryia Sabir).