AURORA, Ill. – The Elmhurst men's lacrosse team suffered its first loss of the 2019 season after falling to Aurora University 7-6.
 
Elmhurst (2-1) scored the game's first two goals as Dan O'Connell and Andrew Frerich both found the back of the net to stake the Bluejays to a two-goal lead. Elmhurst carried a 2-1 lead into the second quarter and Trent Nyberg's early goal extend the Bluejays' cushion back to two at 3-1. Aurora scored back-to-back goals to pull even at 3-3, but Nate Yuhas scored with just over  a minute remaining to put the Bluejays up 4-3 at the half.
 
Josh Boyko scored back-to-back goals for the Spartans at the start of the third quarter to put Aurora up 5-4. O'Connell scored with six minutes remaining to pull Elmhurst even at 5-5. Aurora's Kellen Moczynski scored with just three seconds left in the third to give the Spartans a 6-5 lead. Moczynski scored with five minutes left to play to put the Spartans up 7-5.
 
Elmhurst made one last rally, cashing in an Aurora penalty to cut the lead in half on O'Connell's third goal of the game with just 50 seconds remaining. Aurora won the ensuing faceoff but Elmhurst forced a turnover with seven seconds remaining. The Bluejays had one last chance but Trent Nyberg's shot was saved as the clock expired.
 
Aurora outshot Elmhurst 30-28 and held a 38-31 edge in ground balls. The Spartans were also solid on faceoffs, winning 13-of-17 attempts.
 
O'Connell led Elmhurst in the loss with three goals while Frerich finished with a goal and an assists. Yuhas and Nyberg also scored for the Buejays. Ryan Camarata forced five turnovers in the loss. Jake Delgado took the loss in net, surrendering seven goals while recording seven saves.
 
Moczynski paced the Spartans with three goals while Boyko scored twice for the Spartans. Ryan Griffin won 13 faceoffs and recorded 13 ground balls for Aurora.  Phillip Gianelle earned the win in goal with nine saves.
 
Elmhurst hosts DePauw University on March 12.