The Aurora University men's hockey team hosted Northern Collegiate Hockey Association foe College of St. Scholastica in an afternoon matinee on Friday at the Fox Valley Ice Arena. A three goal second period lifted the Spartans to victory, 3-1 over the Saints.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 3, College of St. Scholastica 1
LOCATION: Fox Valley Ice Arena - Geneva, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 4-13-1; 4-8-1 NCHA; College of St. Scholastica 10-7-1; 8-4-1 NCHA
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams played a very even opening period with AU leading in shots 11-7.
St. Scholastica got the only tally of the opening period on the power play at 9:50.
AU opened up the second period as the aggressor, scoring 29 seconds in with Rihards Marenis lighting the lamp courtesy of Liam Stirtzinger and Drew Doyon assists.
The trio partnered again at 11:40 of the second with Marenis scoring his second of the day and giving AU the 2-1 lead.
A few minutes later the Spartans tallied another, this time Danny Zielecki blocked a shot in the defensive zone, tracked the puck down and scored on a break-away. AU led 3-1 with 6:29 to go in the second.
AU would lead 3-1 at the second intermission.
Neither team scored in a physical and highly paced third period with the Spartans holding on to the 3-1 victory.

FOR THE SPARTANS
Rihards Marenis had two goals.
Danny Zielecki had one goal.
Drew Doyon had two assists and was 18-of-30 from the face-off dot.
Liam Stirtzinger had two assists.

SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
Points: Rihards Marenis, Drew Doyon and Liam Stirtzinger (2)
Goals: Rihards Marenis (2) and Danny Zielecki (1)
Assists: Liam Stirtzinger and Drew Doyon (2)
Saves: Jared Rutledge (32)
Face-offs: Drew Doyon (18-of-30)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's hockey team comes on Saturday, January 28 when they host the College of St. Scholastica in the series finale. Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m. at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois.