The Aurora University men's lacrosse team opened the 2023 season in a battle of Spartans with the University of Dubuque. The AU Spartans were dominant in the second-half, taking a 5-5 halftime tie to a 14-8 victory.


GAME SCORE: Aurora University 14, University of Dubuque 8
LOCATION: Dubuque, Iowa
RECORDS: Aurora University 1-0 overall ; University of Dubuque 0-1 overall


- The Spartans and Zach Bernstein scored two unassisted goals in the first 3:21 of the game to lead 2-0.
- AU led 2-1 after the first quarter of play.
- Dubuque scored the first three goals of the second and led AU 4-2.
- Bernstein ended the Dubuque run with a man-up tally with 5:31 left. Andy Trenary assisted.
- Trailing 5-3 with under a minute to go, the Spartans struck.
- Ben Strub (40 seconds) and Tyler Foerstel (1 second) scored to send the teams to halftime tied 5-5.
- A four goal third, all from the Spartans put AU ahead to stay.
- Jimmy Gorecki got the scoring started with a man-up goal, followed by a pair of Brody MacDonald goals and one from Ben Strub.
- AU led 9-5 heading to the fourth.
- In the fourth, AU out-scored Dubuque 5-3 to control the contest. 
- MacDonald and Strub scored to pick up hat tricks while Carson Leader and Bernstein scored and Owen Spencer scored his first collegiate goal.
- The Spartans celebrated victory for the first time in 2023, winning 14-8.


Points: Zach Benstein and Brody MacDonald (5)
Goals: Zach Benstein (4), Brody MacDonald and Ben Strub (3)
Assists: Tyler Foerstel (3) and Brody MacDonald (2)
Ground balls: Luke Hill (6) 
Caused Turnovers: Austin Spoklie (4)
Saves: Phillip Gianelle (10)


Next action for the Spartan men's lacrosse team comes on Saturday, February 25 when they host Cornell College. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. at Spartan Athletic Park in Aurora, Illinois.