AURORA, Il. – The Calvin women's lacrosse team closed out the non-conference portion of its 2024 schedule with an 18-6 loss at Aurora University Saturday afternoon.

The Knights (3-7) met Aurora (4-6) on even terms early in the contest but the host Spartans outscored Calvin 8-2 in the second half to pull away for the win.

Calvin took an early 2-1 lead on first quarter goals from sophomore Audrey Booher (Fishers, Ind./Heritage Christian HS) and sophomore Morgan Bethard (DeWitt, Mich./DeWitt HS). Booher scored on a feed from junior Meghan Chang (Clarksburg, Md./Clarksburg HS) and Bethard scored off an assist from Booher.

Aurora scored five unanswered goals to take a 6-2 lead. In the second, senior Kelly Ruha (New Hope, Mn./Robbinsville Armstrong HS) scored off an assist from Chang to make it 6-3.

Back in the lineup for the first time since February, sophomore Anneliese Hanson (Naperville, Il./Naperville North HS) scored her second goal of the season and her first since the opening game of the year in early February. The Hanson goal came on a man-up advantage with Booher credited with an assist on the play. The Hanson goal brought Calvin within 8-4.

Aurora scored the final two goals of the second period to lead 10-4 at the break.

The Spartans then scored five goals in the opening five minutes of the third quarter to seal the win.

Freshman Jessica Eenigenburg (Norton Shores, Mich./Western Michigan Christian HS) helped stem the tide with a late third period goal with Booher scoring shortly after.

Booher finished the game with two goals and three assists. Chang had a pair of assists and caused seven opponent turnovers while scooping up eight ground balls. Junior defender Katie Winkle (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) had five ground balls.

Freshman goalie Margee Boelema (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) had five ground balls and a pair of saves.

COACHES COMMENT: "I'm proud of the our team's effort today," said Calvin head women's lacrosse coach Blake Boehm. "We played tough, fast defense and handled their attack well. We just gave them too many extra opportunities down the stretch. We're young and ambitious. We just need to start focusing that energy in a unified direction."

NEXT UP: Calvin will travel to rival Hope next Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest that will mark the MIAA opener for the Knights.