Aurora's Koziol draws preseason recognition
When Aurora University opens its 2017 lacrosse season on Feb. 18, it will have an honorable mention preseason all-American selection named by Inside Lacrosse.
Grayslake Central graduate Jason Koziol earned that honor after being named the 2016 Midwest Lacrosse Conference Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference selection.
The senior attacker led the Spartans with 106 points on 63 goals and 43 assists. Koziol had five man-up goals and five of his goals were game-winning goals.
He ranked seventh in points per game (5.32), 12th in goals per game (3.21) and 30th in assists per game in the NCAA Division III statistical rankings.
Aurora finished the 2016 season with a school record for wins and a 17-3 overall record. The Spartans made their fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championships in the sixth season of play for the program and went to the Sweet 16.
AU was the 2016 regular season and tournament champions in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference and went 6-0 in the MLC regular season.
Women's basketball
Wisconsin-Whitewater sophomore forward Becky Deichl (Libertyville) made 6 of 7 shots from the field to post a career-high 14 points, including 10 in the first half when the No. 20 ranked Warhawks (16-1, 6-0) defeated UW-Stout 74-63in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest.
Men's basketball
Denison 6-foot 5 junior forward Johnny Vernasco (Libertyville) had 9 points and 5 rebounds for the Big Red (17-1, 11-0) in an 89-73 victory over Oberlin.
Men's track and field
Augustana junior Kyle Hucker (Wauconda) was part of the winning 4x400 relay team (3:25.43) in Monmouth's Midwest Invitational. The Vikings won six events, placed second in 12 and had multiple place-winners in 15 of the 16 individual events that were contested.
Augustana sophomore Rob Williams (Vernon Hills) placed sixth (9;23.67) in the 3,000-meter run.
Vikings junior Josh Yamamoto (Fremd) was second in the 400 (50.67) and freshman teammate Teddy Eckhardt (Prospect) took second in the 600 (1:28.89).
Augustana junior Evan Murphy (Buffalo Grove) was second in the triple jump (44-3½) and third in the long jump (20-9) while junior Kevin Barbian (Libertyville) placed second in the shot put (48-4).
Women's track
Augustana junior Emily Webster (Lakes) finished third in the shot put (37-11) and sixth in the weight throw (42-6¼) at the on-scoring Midwest Invitational in Monmouth.
Vikings sophomore Ashley Talken (Wheeling) placed fourth in the pole vault with a clearance of 9-6½.
Augustana sophomore Laura McNair (Lake Zurich) was sixth in the mile in 5:48.77.
Women's basketball
Augustana sophomore Olivia Mayer (Libertyville) leads the Vikings in steals (32) and assists (58).
• Augustana sophomore Carly McCameron (Antioch) shared the team lead in rebounds with five when the Vikings (13-6) dropped a 73-62 to Carthage.
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Lake County sports fans, please send news items about former local prep athletes excelling in college athletics to jleusch@dailyherald.com.