Looking to sweep the NCHA series with the Saints of College of St. Scholastica, the Aurora University Spartan men's hockey team got a hat trick from Rihards Marenis but that would not be enough as the Spartans would lose 4-3.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: College of St. Scholastica 4, Aurora University 3
LOCATION: Geneva, Illinois – Fox Valley Ice Arena
RECORDS: Aurora University 4-14-1; 4-9-1 NCHA; St. Scholastica 11-7-1; 9-4-1 NCHA
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Spartans opened up the scoring early with a short-handed goal just 3:43 into the first. AU's Rihards Marenis went the distance, beating three Saint defenders to give AU a 1-0 lead.
The Saints responded with a goal at 8:11 of the period to tie the game at 1-1.
On the power play, AU converted with 4:51 left in the first period with Marenis scoring his second special team's goal on the day. He was assisted by Liam Stirtzinger and Johnathan Carlson giving the Spartans a 2-1 lead that they would take into the first intermission.
The second period began with multiple power plays for both teams but neither could capitalize.
St. Scholastica scored twice late in the second period to take a 3-2 lead into the intermission.
Marenis scored the first hat trick in the young history of AU men's hockey in the third period. His goal came with assists from Drew Doyon and Anthony Pnewski to tie the score 3-3 with 6:36 played in the third period.
The Saints tallied the game winning goal midway through the final period on a power play for what would be the eventual game-winning goal.
AU had several chances in the final part of the third period but could not light the lamp as they would fall 4-3.
 
TOP SPARTAN PERFORMERS
Rihards Marenis had a hat trick, the first for an AU men's hockey player in the programs short history.
Drew Doyon had two assists and was 24-of-37 at the dot.
 
SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
Points: Rihards Marenis (3)
Goals: Rihards Marenis (3)
Assists: Drew Doyon (2), Liam Stritzinger, Johnathan Carlson and Anthony Pnewski (1)
Saves: Jared Rutledge (26)
Faceoffs: Drew Doyon 24 for 37
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's hockey team comes on Saturday, February 4 when they travel to Lake Forest College. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. Lake Forest, Illinois.