Chicago, ILL Aurora University extended its unbeaten conference streak with a 14–3 win over Illinois Tech on Wednesday night at Stuart Field. The Spartans' balanced offense and stout defense led the way, while the Scarlet Hawks showed resilience, flashes of creativity, and a strong effort in goal throughout the contest. Aurora improves to 7–0 in conference play (7–5 overall), while Illinois Tech sits at 5–2 in the league (6–6 overall).
How It Happened
Aurora jumped out to an early lead, putting pressure on Illinois Tech's defense from the first whistle. Despite the early surge, the Scarlet Hawks remained composed and leaned heavily on the stellar play of goalie
Kyle Johnson, who made 18 saves against an offensive barrage from Aurora.
Illinois Tech found a spark late in the first half with a goal from
Jackson Brass that got the Hawks on the board going into the break trailing 8–1. The Hawks' defense showed grit in the second half, with
Henry Rankin and
Bodey Goertzen making several key stops and causing turnovers to disrupt Aurora's rhythm. The Hawks' offense struggled to get consistent looks, but
Connor Montgomery and
Marc Rebusi were able to find the net in the second half. However, Aurora's lead and continued attack in the second half were too much for the Scarlet Hawks to overcome, as they fell 14–3.
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
•
Kyle Johnson: 18 saves – a huge presence in net, kept the Hawks competitive.
•
Henry Rankin: 4 caused turnovers, 2 ground balls – a disruptive force on defense.
•
Bodey Goertzen: 2 caused turnovers – steady defensive presence.
•
Duwayne Aikins: 6–7 on faceoffs
Inside the Box Score
• Goalie Duel: Johnson recorded 18 saves, while Aurora's Asher Deputy posted 12 saves.
• Ground Balls: Aurora edged Illinois Tech 31–28 in ground balls, showing how closely contested the hustle plays were.
• Clears: Illinois Tech went 21-of-22 on clears (95%), showing clean transitions through midfield.
Up Next
The Scarlet Hawks return to action this Saturday, April 12, as they take on Cornell College in another home NACC contest at Stuart Field at 3 PM.
