The Aurora University women's lacrosse team played host to the Buccaneers of Beloit College for the NACC Tournament Championship on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Athletic Park, with AU looking to advance to the 2024 NCAA Division III Tournament. The Spartans defeated the Buccaneers in dominant fashion 20-7, good for AU's ninth-straight victory going into their fourth-straight NCAA Division III Tournament.


FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 20, Beloit College 7
RECORDS: Aurora University 12-6 overall and 6-0 NACC; Beloit College 9-7 overall anf 4-2 NACC
LOCATION: Spartan Athletic Park - Montgomery, Illinois


- AU captures the fourth consecutive NACC Tournament Championship.
- Spartan midfielder Brianna Peck was named NACC Tournament MVP.
- All-Tournament team members include Danielle Cobbett, Caley Russell, Caitlin Cron and Kenly Axvig.
- AU will make their fourth straight trip to the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship field.


- It took just 30 seconds for Caley Russell to pickup a free-position goal, giving AU an early 1-0 lead.
- 35 seconds later, Brianna Peck made a move around a couple of Beloit defenders before finding the back of the net that allowed AU to take a 2-0 lead.
- Beloit answered back with two goals in the first tie the score at 2.
- Another Peck goal followed by Russell's second goal gave AU a 4-2 lead with 9:45 to go in the first. Peck was assisted by Kenly Axvig, while Russell's goal was set-up by Danielle Cobbett.
- Beloit would tie the score at four later in the first with two goals, while Kenly Axvig answered with two goals of her own as the Spartans took a 6-4 lead. Axvig was assisted by Peck on her first tally.
- The AU offense scored three unanswered goals before the end of the first, with Peck, Axvig, and Russell picking up the tally's. Grace Pelletier assisted on all three goals.
- The Spartans picked up right where they left off in the first when Nicolina Smith found the back of the net, assisted by Axvig.
- After Beloit scored with 12:04 to go in the second to trail 10-5, Russell came back with an unassisted goal.
- Four unanswered goals from AU before the half gave the Spartans a 15-5 advantage going into the halftime break. Russell notched two of the goals, while Peck and Smith each scored another goal as well.
- Beloit scored the first goal of the second half to to trim the AU lead to 16-5.
- Three-straight unassisted goals from Ari Rootberg, Axvig, and Pelletier allowed AU to take an 18-6 lead going into the fourth quarter.
- A power play goal from Pelletier extended the AU lead to 19-6 with 11:24 left on the clock. Pelletier was set-up by Syd Mann.
- Beloit scored to cut the AU lead to 19-7, before Rootberg answered back with another goal for a 20-7 AU lead with 4:50 to go.
- AU would wind up taking the contest by that score of 20-7, giving the Spartans the NACC championship.


Points: Grace Pelletier (8), Caley Russell and Kenly Axvig (6), Brianna Peck (5)
Goals: Caley Russell (6), Kenly Axvig and Brianna Peck (4)
Assists: Grace Pelletier (6), Danielle Cobbett and Kenly Axvig (2)
Ground balls: Brianna Peck (9), Nicolina Smith and Grace Pelletier (5)
Caused Turnovers: Lorelei Babich and Brianna Peck (3)
Draw Controls: Brianna Peck (9) and Kenly Axvig (5)
Saves: Meghan Ginty (4) and Alexis Crowley (2)
 

Next action for the Spartan women's lacrosse team comes in the 2024 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. AU will find out the opponent and location of their next game on Monday, May 6 when the NCAA announces the field at 9:30 a.m. on NCAA.com.