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Mia Fiandaca scored six goals against Aurora University Feb. 28, 2024
© AshtinElder
17
Winner Aurora AU 1-0
15
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 0-1
Winner
Aurora AU
1-0
17
Final
15
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Aurora AU 7 4 4 2 17
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 4 4 3 4 15

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse |

Women’s Lacrosse Shows Promise in Season Opener Against Aurora

Fiandaca breaks single-game caused turnover record

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team went toe-to-toe with Aurora University in its season opener Wednesday evening, Feb. 28, at Tucci Stadium. The Titans ultimately dropped the bout, 17-15. Junior Mia Fiandaca (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles North) broke the program's single-game record with seven caused turnovers. 

Senior Britney Maldonado (Hoffman Estates, Ill.-James B. Conant) and Fiandaca powered the IWU attack that saw six Titans record a point. Maldonado tied for the game-high with nine points on three goals and six assists, while Fiandaca finished with six goals to tie a career-high. Sophomore Devon Hanson (Waukesha, Wis.-Waukesha West) tallied a hat trick. Also finding the back of the net for the Titans were senior Hannah Trousdale (Mt. Prospect, Ill.-Hoffman Estates), along with sophomores Anelise DiGiovanni (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport Township) and Carleigh Fountain (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg). 

Stepping in between the posts, junior Bri Kiser (Crown Point, Ind.-Crown Point) tallied seven saves. Fiandaca bolstered the defense with seven caused turnovers, while Hanson forced four. The duo tied for the team-lead with five ground balls apiece.

Illinois Wesleyan won the opening draw and saw Maldonado hit Fiandaca for a shot, but it was saved. Aurora quickly answered with a goal on the counter to take the lead, 1-0. 

The Spartans scored three more to charge ahead, 4-0, before the Titans broke the shutout. Maldonado, a senior captain, once again led the charge, this time feeding DiGiovanni on a timely cut to cut the deficit to three, 4-1.

Hanson followed with a strong shot into the back of the net to pull the Green and White within two, 4-2.

After a pair of goals from the Spartans, Fiandaca and Maldonado buried shots to keep IWU in striking distance.

Trailing 7-4 into the second quarter, Illinois Wesleyan went goal-for-goal with Aurora over the next 15 minutes. 

Maldonado connected with Trousdale for a goal near the 11-minute mark, but Aurora responded with back-to-back strikes. 

The Green and White followed with two goals, one from Hanson and another from Fiandaca, to cut the Spartans advantage to two, 9-7, with 4:12 to play in the half.

Aurora scored twice more before the half, while a Fiandaca goal on another assist from Maldonado, saw the visitors take an 11-8 lead into the break.

The Spartans boosted their lead to four in the third, before a pair of goals from Fiandaca on dimes from Maldonado kicked off the fourth quarter. The duo were key in IWU's comeback effort, as the Titans found themselves trailing, 17-13, with just under 11 minutes left.

Maldonado scored a goal 45 seconds later to trim the deficit to three, 17-14, a score that would remain into the final minute of play. 

Following a clutch save from Kiser, sophomore Sarah Riepe (Aurora, Ill.-St. Francis) got the Titans rolling on a clear attempt. Riepe eventually tossed a pass ahead to DiGiovanni, who hit a cutting Fountain for a goal with 46 seconds on the clock. 

The goal ended up being the final of the game as IWU's comeback was thwarted, 17-15.

The Titans hit the road this weekend for a non-conference game at Edgewood College Saturday, March 2. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Madison, Wis.

 
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