The Aurora University men's lacrosse team dominated from the opening face-off against Benedictine University in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament semi-final contest on Wednesday night. AU would lay the lumber and defeat the Eagles 20-4.


GAME SCORE: Aurora University 20, Benedictine University 4
RECORDS: Aurora University 14-4 overall; Benedictine University 5-12 overall
LOCATION: Montgomery, Illinois - Spartan Athletic Park


- The Spartans got their first two goals from Ben Strub and Jimmy Gorecki added two with one from Owen Spencer to lead 5-0 after one quarter of play.
- Rielan Pura had two of his six assists in the game in the first quarter.
- The AU defense and goalie Phillip Gianelle were stellar in the first-half, not allowing a goal and maintaining the shutout into late in the third quarter.
- As the defense dominated the Spartan offense was equally impressive, adding five more goals in the second for a 10-0 lead.
- Five different Spartans, Mikail Byun, Carson Leader, Pura, Gorecki and Spencer scored in the second.
- Pura got the scoring going in the third with the first AU goal of the period and assisted on the next four goals to follow.
- After goals from Brody MacDonald, Andy Trenary (2) and Gorecki, AU led 15-0 with 5:41 left in the third.
- Coming out of a timeout, BU scored to end the AU shutout attempt with 5:22 on the third quarter clock.
- A late third goal from Byun put AU up 16-1 and the game was well in hand.
- AU out-scored BU 4-3 in the fourth and won going away, 20-4.


Points: Rielan Pura (8)
Goals:Jimmy Gorecki (4), Andy Trenary and Mikail Byun (3)
Assists: Rielan Pura (6)
Ground balls: Connor Hoeft and Jimmy Gorecki (5)
Caused Turnovers: Kyle Bosshart (3), Connor Hoeft and Owen Spencer (2) 
Face-offs: Eli Etzler (9-of-16) 
Saves: Phillip Gianelle (14)


Next action for the Spartan men's lacrosse team comes on Saturday, May 6 when they host Illinois Institute of Technology in the 2023 NACC Tournament Championship with opening face-off set for 3:00 p.m. at Spartan Athletic Park in Montgomery, Illinois.