The Aurora University hockey team had a rough opening period and dropped the first of a two game set against Concordia University Wisconsin at the Fox Valley Ice Arena on Friday evening. The Spartans lost to CUW 6-2 after trailing 5-0 after one period.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  Concordia University Wisconsin 6, Aurora University 2
LOCATION: Fox Valley Ice Arena; Geneva, Illinois.
RECORDS: Aurora University 1-7-1 overall, 1-3-1 NCHA; Concordia University Wisconsin 6-3-1 overall, 4-2-1 NCHA
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Falcons opened up the scoring early, scoring five times in the first period. Two out of the five goals came on the power play and CUW out shot the Spartans 25-3.
AU played much better in the final two periods, out-scoring CUW 2-1 with shots being in favor of the Falcons 25-24.
Spartan Rihards Marenis tallied the first goal for Aurora in the second period at 13:14. Andrew Bergquist assisted on the first goal of the year for Marenis.
CUW tallied a goal on a breakaway and follow up rebound late in the second period to take a 6-1 lead.
AU defenseman Ron Lingren cut into the lead with a goal halfway through the third period. Assists went to Marenis and Trevor Hoth.

FOR THE SPARTANS
Lucas Thompson played the final two periods in net for the Spartans, allowing one goal with 24 saves.
Rihards Marenis had one goal and one assist.
Ron Lingren had one goal.
Andrew Bergquist and Trevor Hoth added assists.

FOR THE FOES
Jack Romanuik had 25 saves and let up two goals.
Stefen Seel also had two goals and one assist.
Connor Hogg had one goal and one assist.
Braden Crone had three assists.
Taylor Gauld and Adam Fauchoux had two assists each.

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's hockey team comes on Saturday, December 5 when they travel to Concordia University Wisconsin. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. in Mequon, Wisconsin.