The Aurora University Spartan hockey team opened the 2015-2016 season Friday night at the Fox Valley Ice Arena against the No. 2 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. After a tightly played opening period that saw the teams knotted up 1-1, UWSP pulled away to defeat AU 7-3.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  #2 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point 7; Aurora University 3
LOCATION: Geneva, Illinois – Fox Valley Ice Arena
RECORDS: Aurora University 0-1 ; University of Wisconsin -  Stevens Point 1-0
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Pointer goal 0:57 into the first period by Joe Kalisz assisted from Alex Brooks.
Spartan goal with 2:01 left in the first period, scored by Michael Mikulan, assisted from Gregory Sauers.
AU and #2 UWSP were tied 1-1 at the end of one period.
Pointer goal on the power play by Eliot Grauer assists from Trace Strahle and Logan Lemirande 1:48 into the second period.
Pointer goal from Alex Kromm assisted from Nathan Harris at 6:52 in the second period
Spartan goal by Tim Santopoala assists from Patrick Sofer and Anthony Pnewski at 12:06 in the second period.
Pointer goal scored by Lawrence Cornellier assisted by Grauer at 16:27 into the second period.
Pointer goal by Cornellier assisted from Harris at 18:45 in the second period.
UWSP out scored AU 4-1 in the second period to lead 5-2.
Pointer goal by Joey Haydock assisted from Kalisz at 4:58 into the third period.
Aurora goal scored by Rihards Marenis assisted from Trevor Hoth at 8:45 into the third period.
Pointer goal Ethan Strong on the power play assisted from Kromm and Lemirande at 17:23 into the third period.
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
The Spartans and Pointers matched up for the first time.
Aurora had 6 penalties for 12 minutes while UW Stevens Point had 3 for 6 minutes. Stevens Point scored two power play goals.
 
FOR THE SPARTANS
Jared Rutledge had 57 saves for the Spartans.
Michael Mikulan scored one goal.
Tim Santopoalo scored one goal.
Rihards Marenis scored one goal.
Gregory Sauers,  Patrick Sofer, Anthony Pnewski and Trevor Hoth had assists.
 
FOR THE FOES
Lawrence Cornellier had two goals on the night.
Logan Lemirande had two assists for the Pointers.
Max Milosek had 22 saves for the Pointers.
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's hockey team comes on Saturday, October 31 when they host #9 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois.