AURORA, ILL.—The Carthage College men's lacrosse team traveled to Aurora University on Saturday afternoon following a week-hiatus from competition. The Spartans, who held an 8-0 all-time mark against the Red Men prior to Saturday's bout, were in pursuit of a seven-game win streak and to maintain votes on the USILA Top-20 Coaches' Poll. A five-game win streak and a program-first victory against the Spartans was at stake for Carthage.
 
Things weren't meant to be for the Red Men as they fell to Aurora 16-4.
 
Carthage was able to muster a 16-of-17 figure in clears while the Spartans cleared the field 14-of-16 times.
 
The Red Men fall to 6-2, 1-0 CCIW while Aurora improves to 8-1, 2-0 MLC.
 
Aurora 16, Red Men 4
 
Down 4-0 with 11:10 left in the second quarter, Carthage cut their deficit in half over the next 4:31 of action. Goals from Billy Lane (man-up) and Andy Szun narrowed Aurora's lead to 4-2 with 6:39 remaining in the second frame.
 
That's as close the Red Men got as Aurora responded with a 12-2 run the remainder of the contest to secure a 16-4 victory.
 
Lane led the Carthage offense with two goals while Szun and William Gast each notched one.
 
Red Men goalkeeper Ryan Smith notched 12 saves in the complete-game outing.   
 
Carthage will return to action on Wednesday, March 22 at Hanover College. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m. (ET).