Tech Scores Six Unanswered, Rallies to Beat Aurora

(photo credit: Judith Rackow).
(photo credit: Judith Rackow).

CHICAGO, Ill. - The Illinois Tech women's lacrosse team played its second match in as many days on Wednesday night, taking on a tough Aurora Spartans squad in a Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference (MWLC) contest. Trailing by five goals in the second half, the Scarlet Hawks (4-2, 3-1 MWLC) rattled off six straight goals to beat the Spartans (3-4, 2-1 MWLC), including a game-winner in overtime from Isabella Rubin.

How it Happened

  • Madison Meredith started the scoring for Tech in the third minute of the match. A few minutes later, the senior broke a 1-1 tie from a Shanie Scoles pass to give the Scarlet Hawks a 2-1 lead.
  • However, Aurora was able to hit a groove. With some stifling defense to create more opportunities, the Spartans went on a 5-0 run over the next 14 minutes to jump ahead 6-2.
  • Shanie Scoles would score twice for Tech in the final 5:23 of the second half, including once with 19 seconds left before the break. Aurora was able to offset Scoles' two goals with a pair of tallies from Marina Kanner, making it a 8-4 halftime score.
  • After Claire Carlson extended AU's lead to five (its largest of the night) just out of halftime, the Scarlet Hawks would find another gear. Alyssa DeLuca and Scoles scored within 90 seconds of each other to make the score 9-6 with 22:57 left.
  • Behind an overwhelming defensive effort that held AU to 8-of-18 on clears and forced 24 turnovers after halftime, the Scarlet Hawks offset some amazing Reilly Armstrong saves with significantly more opportunites to score. Brooke Rowan and Jennifer Young were able to skip shots past Armstrong to pull the team to within one with 8:43 remaining.
  • With 1:53 to play, Meredith resumed what she started early in the match, scoring off of a Young pass to tie the score.
  • In the final minute of regulation, the Scarlet Hawks and Spartans each had one clean look at the net. Shanie Scoles' shot was blocked by a Spartan defender with 47 seconds to go, while Kanner had a shot saved by Tech's Elizabeth Zia with just four seconds remaining.
  • Illinois Tech began overtime just like much of the second half, swarming on defense to dominate possession. After two more Armstrong saves on Tech shot attempts, Isabella Rubin took a Rowan pass and fired a shot past the keeper for the game-winner with just 17 seconds remaining in the first segment of the first overtime.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

  • Rubin netted the game-winner for her only goal of the day. She also caused four turnovers.
  • Both Meredith and Scoles had three goals and one assist each. Meredith tallied six draw controls, while Scoles had three ground balls.
  • Rowan, DeLuca, and Young each had one goal and one assist. Young was a force defensively, scooping up five ground balls and causing seven turnovers. 
  • Zia earned the first win of her collegiate career, recording two saves.

Stats to Know

  • Tech narrowly won the battle in ground balls (31-30), while AU was an advantage (11-10).
  • The Scarlet Hawks outshot the Spartans 29-19 and forced AU to a rough 19-of-36 clear count.
  • Aurora's keeper, Armstrong, made 13 saves and was a big reason why Tech was just 1-of-9 on free position attempts.

Up Next

  • Benedictine is up next for Tech, as the Scarlet Hawks will head on the road to face the Eagles in an MWLC match. Saturday's match will begin at 1:00 p.m.