The Aurora University hockey team played the ranked St. Scholastica Saints tight for 59 minutes but a goal final minute and an empty netter shortly after dropped the Spartans by a 5-3 score.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: #15 College of St. Scholastica 5;  Aurora University 3
LOCATION: Duluth, Minnesota
RECORDS: Aurora University 1-17-1 overall and 1-12-1 NCHA; College of St. Scholastica 13-4-2 overall and 11-3 NCHA
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
St. Scholastica scored a power play goal early into the first period for a 1-0 lead.
AU answered with a goal by Conor Jonasson 1:02 into the second period with assists coming from Trevor Hoth and Rihards Marenis.
After St. Scholastica took the lead at 2-1, AU scored to tie the game at 2-2. Marenis scored with an assist from Tom Greene.
Midway through the third period the Spartans took their first lead with a power play goal of their own. Ron Lindgren found the back of the net with assists from Jonasson and Marenis.
The lead lasted several minutes before St. Scholastica tied the game with about eight minutes left in the game.
With 1:15 to play and overtime looming, St. Scholastica scored on a back-handed rebound and took the lead at 4-3.
Seconds later and an empty AU net, the Saints added a goal for the eventual 5-3 score.
 
FOR THE SPARTANS
Conor Jonasson had the first AU goal and one assist.
Rihards Marenis had one goal and two assists.
Ron Lindgren had a power-play goal.
Tom Green and Trevor Hoth had an assist each.
Lucas Thompson had 44 saves.
 
FOR THE FOES
Dylan Nowakowski had two goals and two assists
Keegan Bruce had four assists.
Peter Megariotis made 12 saves.
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's hockey team comes on Friday, February 5, 2016 when they host Lake Forest College. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois.