AURORA, Ill. – For the first moments of the game, it appeared Edgewood College might pull off a repeat of 2013. That year, the Eagles stunned favored Aurora University with a 1-0 victory which helped them gain a share of the NACC title. However this year, the Eagles couldn't hang on to an early lead, and the Spartans took the NACC opener for both teams 2-1 at Vago Field on Saturday.

Edgewood College (2-4, 0-1 NACC) put the six-time defending NACC champions on their heels almost before the referee's opening whistle had faded away. In the third minute, Hannah Menzia served a ball in to Stevie Grable who trapped it with her head and scored for short distance for a stunning 1-0 Eagles lead. It was Grable's second goal of the season and broke a scoreless drought of nearly 347 minutes for Edgewood College.

The Eagles collected a couple of corner kicks and Jennifer Dailey put a shot on net, before Aurora University (4-2, 1-0 NACC) answered in the 14th minute. The Spartans' Nicci Bermudes scored off a pass from Alexis Bejarano to tie the match at 1-1. Eagle goalkeeper Sabelle Seabrook made four first half saves to keep the game tied at halftime.

But Bermudes tallied again less than eight minutes into the second half. Bejarano played another through ball and Bermudes deposited her 10th goal of the season into the back of the net. Bermudes has scored 10 of her team's 11 total goals this year. Grable and Dailey each accounted for another shot on goal in an attempt to force overtime, but the Aurora's Caitlin DeRuiter saved both efforts.

The Eagles totaled five shots for the game, with two each from Grable and Dailey and one more from Hailey Gaines. Seabrook collected 10 saves in net for the Eagles. Aurora  was credited with 22 shots for the game and DeRuiter made three saves.

Edgewood College will attempt to break their current four-match losing skid with their second NACC contest next Saturday at Benedictine University.