In the 2014-3025 home opener for the Aurora University Spartan hockey team, the Spartans defeated Williston State College 7-3.

AU got out to a lead midway through the first period with Jimmie Perkins scoring with an assist from Justin Gregory. In the final minute of the period, the power play struck with Paul Lochner scoring on an assist from Gregory Sauers.

The Spartans took the 2-0 lead into the intermission as Teton goalkeeper Matt Sawyer made 16 saves, a few of the spectacular variety. The fairly clean first period saw only two penalties, both on the visiting Tetons.

Coming out of the intermission, the Tetons got on the board quickly, tallying their first goal of the night just 16 seconds into the period.

The Spartans a short time later found themselves on the penalty kill and eventually a five on three for 15 seconds. After the first penalty was killed off, AU's Ryan Devlantes made the Tetons pay, tallying a short handed goal with assists coming from Ron Lindgren and Robert Gervino who was serving the first part of the five on three.

Williston cut back into the AU lead midway through with an even strength goal that would send the teams into the second intermission with the score 3-2. In the second period, Williston went 0 for 4 on the power play and allowed a Spartan shorty and AU was 0 for 1 on the power play.

The physicality picked up even more in the third period, with several big hits coming in the opening minute of play of the third from both teams. AU's Michael Mikulin gave the home team a two goal advantage 32 seconds into the period and he was assisted by Sauers and Lindgren.

After killing off one penalty, AU was forced back to the penalty kill just under five minutes into the third. And 15 seconds into the kill Devlantes struck again short handed. Devlantes and Conor Jonasson worked a beautiful give and go with Devlantes finding the back of the net for a 5-2 Spartan lead.

AU found themselves on the power play twice later in the period but were unable to expand on their lead. Shortly after the second power play ended, Mikulin lit the lamp for the second time on the night. Connor Quinn assisted on the play for a 6-2 AU advantage. A short time later Lochner tallied his second of the night for a 7-2 lead which would be the eventual final score. Joe Jablonski assisted on the even strength score.

On the night, AU out short Williston 51 to 40 with Kyle Weiner coming up with 38 saves in the winning effort.

The two teams will square off again later tonight at 9:45 p.m. at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois.