Release courtesy of Aurora University
AURORA, IL - Playing in the NCAA Division III Championships for the third time in the program's fifth season of existence, the Aurora University men's lacrosse tam traveled to Otterbein University for the first round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. AU won the battle with a four goal fourth quarter to win 8-6 and advance to the NCAA men's Lacrosse Sweet 16 for the third straight season.
The Spartans jumped out to a 1-0 lead 2:33 into the game with a goal from senior Nolan Miller. Otterbein tied the scored a little over three minutes later and the score remained tied at 1-1 late into the first quarter. With 5:05 left in the first, the Spartans found themselves on an extra man opportunity and 35 seconds into the one minute man-up, senior Max Obriecht found the back of the Otterbein net for a 2-1 AU lead.
Almost to the second, the Spartans started off the second quarter with a goal for a 3-1 lead. AU freshman JK Torres scored the goal. Just over one minute later, Otterbein scored to keep the Spartans lead at one, 3-2.
Just as they did in the first quarter, the Spartans struck last in the second quarter. Junior Alex Gebben fed senior Jordan Williams with a pass and Williams buried the shot pushing the AU lead back to two at 4-2. AU and goalkeeper Cameron Brooks would keep the lead heading into halftime.
The third quarter was all Otterbein as the hosts scored three unanswered goals to take the lead from the Spartans for the first time, 5-4. With momentum and the home crowd heavily in their favor, Otterbein committed a crucial mistake just before time expired in the third quarter. A holding penalty was called which allowed the Spartans to start the forth with possession and a man-up.
Wasting little time, the Spartans moved the ball around with precision and tick-tack-toe passing that ended with senior Danny Loyall burying a shot from right in from right in front of the Otterbein net and the game was tied 5-5.Senior Garret Rosiek assisted on the play.
With the momentum of the game shifting back in their favor, the Spartans continued to put pressure on the Cardinals and with 8:47 on the game clock, Torres tallied his second goal of the night and AU regained the lead 6-5. A minute later, Miller found the back of the net for his second goal of the night and the Spartans now led 7-5.
The back breaker came with 4:04 to play when Torres assisted on a fast break goal by Jason Koziol and the Spartans had control of the game and an 8-5 lead.
Otterbein would score one last goal with 51 seconds to play but the defensive unit and Brooks stood strong down the stretch and AU won 8-6.
The win improved the Spartans to 14-7 on the season and marked the Spartans third consecutive opening round victory in the NCAA Tournament. Next action for the Spartan men's lacrosse comes on Saturday, May 9 when they travel to Lynchburg College (18-2) in the second round "Sweet 16 of the 2015 NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championships. Game time is still to be determined in Lynchburg, Virginia.