The Aurora University Spartan hockey team celebrated senior night prior to hosting the #11 Sabres of Marian University on Friday night at the Fox Valley Ice Arena. AU went toe to toe with the Sabres in falling 3-1. Two Marian goals in a 15 second span of the second period proved to be the difference.
THE BASICSFINAL SCORE: #11 Marian University 3, Aurora University 1
LOCATION: Geneva, Illinois – Geneva Ice Arena
RECORDS:Â Aurora University 2-21-1; NCHA 2-16-1; Marian University 16-5-3; NCHA 14-4-1
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SPARTAN STARTERS LEFT WING: Rihards MarenisCENTER: Tom GreeneRIGHT WING: Tim Santopaolo
DEFENSE: Ian SweeneyDEFENSE: Ron LindgrenBETWEEN THE PIPES: Jared RutledgeÂ
HOW IT HAPPENEDThe teams played a scoreless first period with Marian holding a slim 8-6 advantage in shots.
The game remained scoreless over midway through the second period but Marian held a decisive advantage in the second in shots.
Marian scored the first goal of the game late in the second period at 15:54.
Just 15 seconds later, Marian added another goal at 16:09 to take a 2-0 lead.
The Sabres scored again in the third period at 12:50.
With two Marian players in the penalty box, AU pulled Rutledge for a 6 on 3 advantage.
As the first Sabre penalty ended, AU's
Ron Lindgren scored a power play goal with an extra attacker at 17:43 of the third.
Tom Greene and
Gregory Sauers had assists on the play.
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FOR THE SPARTANSRon Lindgren scored the lone goal, on the power play.
Assists came from
Tom Greene and
Gregory SauersJared Rutledge had 33 saves.
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FOR THE FOESDevin Stuermer had one goal and one assist
Hunter Stewart had two assists
Mike Gudmandson had 15 saves
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UP NEXTNext action for the Spartan men's hockey team comes on Saturday, February 20, 2016 when they finish up the 2015-2016 season at Marian University. Puck drop is set for 4:00 p.m. in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.