ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst men's lacrosse team could not hold off a late rally from Aurora University, falling to the Spartans 8-7 at Langhorst Field in the Bluejays' home-opening contest of the season.
 
Elmhurst (1-1) led 7-5 in the fourth quarter, but Aurora (1-0) scored three times in a six-minute span to rally for the 8-7 victory.
 
The back-and-forth affair featured five ties and five lead changes. Neither team led by more than two goals at any point in the contest.
 
Aurora went on the board just 1:42 into the contest on a Joey Lucchesi goal, but the Bluejays used back-to-back goals from Trent Nyberg and Ty Funderburk to take a 2-1 lead. The Spartans scored just 35 seconds later to pull even at 2-2 after one quarter.  Andrew Lentz scored the only goal of the second quarter to give the Bluejays a 3-2 lead at halftime.
 
Aurora pulled even on a JK Torres goal early in the third, but Luke Richardson's goal on an extra-man advantage gave Elmhurst a 4-3 lead. The Spartans responded with back-to-back goals from Lucchesi and Torres, taking a 5-4 lead in the process with 7:48 left in the third. Mac Harden's first goal of the game brought the Bluejays even at 5-5 entering the fourth quarter.
 
Elmhurst took advantage of a pair of Spartans' penalties to go up by two early in the fourth. Harden connected on the man-advantage with 13 minutes left and just 90 seconds later, Dan O'Connell gave Elmhurst a two-goal lead.
 
Aurora cut the deficit in half with a Lucchesi goal with 8:31 left. The Spartans pulled even on Torres' third goal of the game with 6:28 left. Lucchesi scored the game-winner with 2:21 left on the clock. The Spartans won the ensuing faceoff and were able to wind out the clock, aided in part by a delayed penalty call on the Bluejays.
 
Elmhurst outshot Aurora 31-29, including a 15-7 edge in the first half. Aurora turned the tables in the second half, outshooting Elmhurst 22-16. Elmhurst was successful on 14-of-18 clear attempts while Aurora completed 20-of-22 clears. The Bluejays took advantage of the extra-man advantage, scoring three goals on five chances.
 
Harden, Funderburk and O'Connell totaled two points apiece to lead the Bluejays in the loss. Harden scored twice while Funderburk and O'Connell tallied one goal and one assist apiece. Harden added a team-leading six ground balls while Marcus Yandall added an assist for the Bluejays. Eric Langston forced three turnovers for the Bluejays' defense. Noah Bachofen took the loss in goal for Elmhurst, allowing eight goals while recording seven saves.
 
Lucchesi and Torres finished with seven of the eight Spartans' goals. Lucchesi tallied four while Torres scored three, all in the second half. Corey Segall won 12-of-19 faceoffs and picked up seven ground balls for the Spartans. Tyler Lombardi picked up the win in goal, allowing seven goals while recording 14 saves.
 
Elmhurst travels to Concordia University (Wis.) next Wednesday, February 28.