River Forest, Ill.- Concordia Chicago returned home after a four game road trip over a three week period. On a rare, good weather day during lacrosse season, Aurora jumped to an early lead and held on throughout the first half to take a three goal lead into halftime. The second half, was an offensive show for the Cougars as they scored seven straight goals to take a three goal lead. Aurora came storming back with four straight goals of their own to take a one goal lead. Maggie Doane tied it up on a free position goal to head to overtime with the score at 13. Unfortunately, Aurora came back in the second overtime to win by the final score of 14-13.
Doane led the Cougars with six goals, one assist, three groundballs, and one draw control. Anna Kellar followed that up with five goals, three groundballs, two caused turnovers, and one draw control.
Within the first three minutes, Aurora jumped ahead to a 2-0 lead. Doane came right back with a goal of her own. In a group of players, Doane picked up the draw control and went coast to coast to cut the lead in half. After another Aurora goal, Michelle Ruan got around Spartan defenders to score her first goal of the season and cut the lead to 3-2 ten minutes into the half. The Spartans jumped out to their largest lead of the game when they scored two straight goals to make the score 5-2. Minutes later, Kellar scored her first of the game off a beautiful pass from behind the net from Doane. Aurora added one late and took a 6-3 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the offense was on fire for both teams within the first ten minutes. With the score at 9-5 Aurora, the Cougars scored three straight goals to cut the lead to one. Doane and Kellar each netted hat tricks, but it was Jessica Jaimes with her second goal of the year that was the highlight of the comeback to cut the Spartans lead to one and force an AU timeout. After the timeout, the Cougars tied it on Kellar's fourth goal of the match with 14 minutes left in the game. Concordia Chicago continued their run scoring two more goals from Doane to take a two goal lead and a continue on a 7-0 goal run.
With the score at 12-9, Aurora snapped CUC's seven straight goal streak when they cut the lead to two with eight minutes to go. The Spartans continued to apply pressure on the attack and scored three more goals to take the lead at 13-12 with three minutes in the game and force a Cougars timeout. With under a minute, Doane continued to be stellar as she converted on a free position shot to tie the game at 13. CUC applied pressure late, but the Aurora defense was stout to force overtime tied up at 13 a piece.
After a scoreless first overtime, Aurora capitalized with their leading goal scorer Andrea Colford driving to the net in the second overtime to win by the final score of 14-13.
Concordia-Chicago (2-10, 1-6 MWLC) return to action Saturday, April 14, when they go back on the road to take on Monmouth College. Opening draw is set for 2:00pm.
