Bri Kiser running out during starting lineups Feb. 21, 2026

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Women’s Lacrosse Hosts Aurora for Wednesday Bout

Titans take on Spartans at 4 p.m.

2/24/2026 5:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team will continue its stretch of home contests to begin the 2026 season, as the Titans (2-0) host Aurora University Wednesday, Feb. 25. Action is set to begin at 4 p.m. inside Tucci Stadium.

Illinois Wesleyan is entering the contest off two weekend wins, marking the best start to a season since 2019. Most recently, IWU defeated Augsburg University, 20-10, Sunday, Feb. 22. Senior Anelise DiGiovanni (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport Township) powered the offense with a career-high 10 points, led by a career-best seven assists, and tied her career-high of three goals. Senior Sadie Newton (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) and sophomore Maddie Gibson (Fenton, Mo.-Rockwood Summit) led the team with four goals apiece. Newton also led the way in ground balls and draw controls, tallying eight apiece. Sophomore Sophie Shore (St. Peters, Mo.-Francis Howell Central) led the Green and White with a career-high five caused turnovers. Sophomore Marli Brown (Kansas City, Mo.-Notre Dame de Sion) notched the win in goal, as she logged one save in third minutes between the iron.

Two games in, DiGiovanni leads the IWU offense in points and assists. Her 16 points rank eighth nationally, while her average of eight points per game sits fifth. With 10 assists on the season, the senior is second in Division III, and her average of five helpers per game is good for fourth nationally. Shore sits second on the squad with 11 points, followed by nine from Gibson. Together, the trio help an IWU offense that ranks 10th nationally in points per set with an average of 28.5. Sophomore Lillie Keeton's (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) eight goals are the most by a Titan this season, followed by seven from Newton, and six from DiGiovanni. As a team, the Titans rank fourth in the country in assists per game, entering Wednesday with an average of 11. DiGiovanni leads the Green and White, while Shore follows with seven helpers. Gibson rounds out the top three passers with four assists.

At the draw, Newton leads the way with 14 draw controls, an average of seven per game, a mark that ranks 22nd across Division III. Shore follows with 10, while senior Sarah Riepe (Aurora, Ill.-St Francis) closely trails with nine. As a team, the Titans are averaging 18.50 draw controls per game, the seventh-best mark in the country. IWU also sits top-10 in caused turnovers per game, as its average of 22 per contest ranks second. Newton and Shore lead the defense with eight caused turnovers each, followed by seven from Riepe. Newton also leads the team with 11 ground balls, followed by Riepe's eight, and seven from Shore and Keeton.

In goal, Brown and freshman Allison Vervynck (Overland Park, Kan.-Saint Thomas Aquinas) have split time between the posts, as each has logged 60 minutes. Brown has made five saves in two starts, recording two wins in goal, while Vervynck has six saves to her name.

IWU and AU will meet for the 10th time, with the Green and White holding a slim, 5-4, edge in the series. The Spartans have won the last four meetings, including the most recent, 10-7, Feb. 22, 2025. Avery Setzler led the offense with four points by way of three goals and an assist, while Newton notched a match-high seven draw controls. Mia Fiandaca registered a team-leading four caused turnovers to lead the defense. Lizzie Rymarcsuk made 10 saves in 60 minutes in goal. The Spartans will make their season debut Wednesday afternoon.

A live stream of the game can be found here, while live stats can be tracked by clicking here.

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