A sluggish start for the Aurora University men's lacrosse team at Illinois Wesleyan University was not enough to slow down the Spartans as they out-scored the home Titans 13-4 in the second and third quarters to win 20-14.

GAME INFORMATION
FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 20; Illinois Wesleyan University 14
RECORDS: Aurora University 2-0; Illinois Wesleyan University 0-1
LOCATION: Bloomington, Illinois – Tucci Stadium 
WEATHER: Sunny, 63 degrees
LENGTH OF GAME: 2:05
 
SPARTAN STARTING LINE UP:
Attack: Jason Koziol
Attack: Bailey Smith
Attack: Trevor McNamara
Midfield: Will Bradshaw
Midfield: Matt Smidlein
Midfield: Hunter So
Defense: Jon Glende
Defense: Bryce Wallgard
Defense: Grant James
Goalie: ?Brian Richter
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
AU fell behind quickly to the Titans who took the 2-0 with 8:00 left in the first.
Just thirty seconds after IWU's second goal, AU junior Jason Koziol found the back of the net from a great pass from Trevor McNamara.
The Titans would not go away as they scored the next goal to extend their lead 3-1 with just over 5:00 left in the quarter.
Koziol fired a rocket to the back of the net to close the gap back to one (3-2).
IWU scored two more times to go into the second quarter leading 5-2. 
The Titans were looking to handle the Spartans picking up where they left off in the first with a quick second quarter goal to extend their lead to 6-2.
AU answered with a 6-0 run in a span of just 6:00. McNamara started the scoring frenzy off of a great pass from Nick Glaser. Seconds later Freshman Hunter So would get his first collegiate goal to make the score 6-4. Senior Max Matthai would score his first goal of 2016 assisted by Ben Arends (6-5). Koziol would get back to back goals to give the Spartans the first lead of the day at 7-6, Will Bradshaw and Bailey Smith assisted on the goals.
After a great defensive stance by AU and a forced turnover from Grant James, McNamara fired a behind the back goal assisted by Jason Koziol to put the Spartans up 8-6. McNamara and Matt Sammarco would both get assists and goals before the half to lead 10-7 at halftime.
The Spartans defense played a tough third quarter allowing just two goals. AU would grab four more goals from Sammarco, McNamara and Koziol to go into the fourth quarter leading 15-9. 
The fourth quarter saw much of the same as the Spartans would get five more goals from McNamara, Alex Gebben, Koziol and So.
With the game in hand, IWU scored five goals but AU had the game all but sealed up.
When the final horn sounded, AU celebrated a 20-14 win.
 
FOR THE SPARTANS
Jason Koziol had eight goals and two assists
Trevor McNamara had six goals and two assists
Hunter So scored his first collegiate goal and had two on the day
Max Matthai and Alex Gebben scored their first goal of the 2016 season
Nick Glaser had three assists
 
SPARTAN TEAM LEADERS
Points: 10 - Jason Koziol
Goals: 8 – Koziol 
Assists: 3 – Nick Glaser
Saves: 6 – Brian Richter
Win: 2-0 - Richter
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's lacrosse team comes on Saturday, February 27, 2016 when they host the Bulldogs of Adrian College. Game time is set for 1:00 pm on Vago Field.