ALBION, Mich. – Aurora University scored on all six of its extra man opportunities, including Trevor McNamara's goal with 53 seconds left in overtime, to pull out a 12-11 victory over Albion College in a NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship first round contest at Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium.
Jason Koziol scored four times and dished out three assists for Aurora, while McNamara finished with three goals.
Aurora never trailed as Koziol, Sam Hiss, Matt Smidlein and Matt Sammarco scored to power the Spartans to a 4-0 lead early in the second quarter.
"Aurora pressed us and we weren't as good as we needed to be early," Albion Head Coach Jake DeCola said. "It was a tough challenge to overcome. We didn't help ourselves with the way we played in the first half.
"We faced plenty of adversity today and I'm proud of the work we put it," DeCola added. "This was a great team to coach. They came to battle every day."
Led by Kyle DeCamp winning 13 of 15 face offs, Albion mounted a furious comeback. Zach Hubbell and Dylan Neal produced two goals apiece as Albion cut the deficit to 9-8 with 14:32 left in regulation.
McNamara and Nick Glaser tacked on extra man goals to boost the Aurora lead to 11-8 with 10 minutes left.
Albion forced overtime as Neal, David DiRado and Cameron Braun scored in a 3 ½ minute window late in the fourth quarter.
Albion had possessions in the waning minutes of regulation and in overtime to tack on the winning score. The Britons took over with two minutes left in regulation, but Neal's shot was blocked. Aurora later turned the ball over on its defensive end, but Albion was unable to generate a shot.
"We got everything we wanted except a quality shot on goal," DeCola said of Albion's last attempt in regulation.
Albion gained possession after Aurora sent shots wide and high of the net on the first possession of the sudden victory overtime. Albion's possession ended when Braun was penalized for holding on the scramble for the loose ball after his shot was blocked.
Hubbell put five points on the deck for Albion with three goals and a pair of assists, while Neal finished with three goals and an assist.
Braun reached a milestone in his final collegiate contest as his goal gave him 200 points for his career. Neal, Brad Bogus, Nicholas DiMaggio, and Jordan Hempfling also completed their collegiate careers for the Britons.
"They played their hearts out," DeCola said after his team finished 13-5 and achieved back-to-back Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships.
