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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team overpowered Aurora University, 23-9, at Tucci Stadium Wednesday evening, Feb. 26. IWU scored a combined 17 goals in the first and third quarters to outpace AU and improve to 2-1 on the season and hand the Spartans (1-1) their first setback of the year.

The Titans got on the scoreboard just 21 seconds into the game with a goal from freshman Connor Kiichle (Vancouver, Wash.-Skyview), and followed it up with three more from freshman Carson Kiichle (Vancouver, Wash.-Skyview) and sophomore Rick Smith (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln Way East), in addition to another Connor Kiichle goal, to take a 4-0 lead with 10:15 left in the first quarter. 

After Aurora netted one, IWU responded with four straight of their own, with scores by junior Jake Simpson (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln Way East), seniors Danny Lowe (Woodbury, Minn.-East Ridge) and Patrick Murphy (Palatine, Ill.-St. Viator), and Carson Kiichle to end the first quarter in the lead 8-1.

In the second quarter, the Titans got goals from Smith and sophomore Cole Harden (Terrace Park, Ohio-Mariemont) as they took a 10-4 lead after 30 minutes.

After the two teams exchanged goals to make the score 13-6 with 8:40 to play, IWU responded with three goals in the next 36 seconds, coming from Murphy, Smith, and senior Cristian Torres (Winfield, Ill.-Wheaton North) to extend their lead to 16-6. The Titans would get another three goals, scored by senior Morgan Riley (Peoria, Ill.-Richwoods), Carson Kiichle, and Connor Kiichle to end the third quarter up 19-6.

The Titans were able to keep the Spartans in check in the fourth quarter, allowing three goals while scoring four to secure a decisive 23-9 margin of victory.

Smith tallied six goals and three assists to lead the Titans, while Connor Kiichle scored four goals and assisted on three others. Carson Kiichle also netted home four and assisted on two, with Murphy and Riley each adding a pair of goals of their own.

Junior Max Bousky (Peoria, Ill.-Peoria Notre Dame) and sophomore Zac Taylor (Brighton, Mich.-Brighton) combined to win 25-of-35 faceoffs, while Bousky picked up a team-high 12 ground balls. Torres caused three turnovers and picked up five ground balls in addition to his goal in the third quarter.

As a team, IWU generated 69 shots with 47 on goal while Aurora was held to 33 shots with 27 on frame. The Titans were 15-of-16 on clear opportunities and caused 24 turnovers, the second-most in Illinois Wesleyan history, while committing only nine.

Next up for the Titans is a home bout versus Alma College, Saturday, Feb. 29, inside Tucci Stadium. The game is scheduled for 12 p.m. as the first leg of a doubleheader with the women's lacrosse team.