The Aurora University women's lacrosse team opened up the 2023 season with a second-half scoring explosion fueled by nine Monique Gibson goals in the game and defeated the visiting Illinois Wesleyan University Titans 16-5.


FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 16, Illinois Wesleyan University 5
RECORDS: Aurora University 1-0 overall; Illinois Wesleyan University 0-3
LOCATION: Spartan Athletic Park - Montgomery, Illinois
 

- After some first game jitters worked their way out in the opening minutes, the Spartans struck first with Monique Gibson scoring with 6:30 left in the first quarter,
- With just under a minute left, IWU scored to tie the contest which would end 1-1 after one quarter.
- Gibson scored twice to collect a hat trick early in the second quarter and AU led 3-1.
- IWU scored twice to tie the contest late in the second.
- Just before the halftime horn, Gibson scored her fourth goal of the game and collected her 200th career point to put AU up 4-3 going to the intermission.
- The Spartans dominated the second-half out-scoring IWU 12-2.
- Gibson added three more third quarter goals with Caley Russell and Margaret Flanagan getting in on the scoring.
- After three quarters, AU led 9-4.
- Hannah Martindale and Bailey Simpson each tallied goals in the opening minute of the fourth.
- Goals from Jessica Boyland, Gibson and Flanagan put AU up 14-5 with 3:30 to go in the game.
- Gibson would score her ninth of the night with 2:42 to go to enact the running clock.
- Simpson rounded out the scoring in the final minute as AU was victorious 16-5.


Points: Monique Gibson (9) and Jessica Boyland (4)
Goals: Monique Gibson (9)
Assists: Jessica Boyland (3)
Ground balls: Meghan Ginty (6)
Caused Turnovers: Monique Gibson (4)
Saves: Meghan Ginty (5)
 

Next action for the Spartan men's lacrosse team comes on Tuesday, March 7 when they travel to Rhodes College. Opening faceoff is slated for 4:00 p.m. in Memphis, Tennessee.