The Aurora University men's hockey team hosted Northland College in a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association contest and the first home game at Fox Valley Ice Arena in 2018-2019 in Sunday afternoon. Backed by strong special teams and the first hat trick in program history from freshman Shawn O'Malley, the Spartans defeated the LumberJacks 5-3.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 5, Northland College 3
LOCATION: Fox Valley Ice Arena - Geneva, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 3-1 overall and 2-0 NCHA; Northland College 0-2-1 overall and 0-1-1 NCHA
ATTENDANCE: 287
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After the Spartans came out and dominated possession, the visitors struck first on the scoreboard, scoring on their first shot of the game. 4:23 into the contest, AU trailed 1-0.
- AU then saw themselves on a power play three times but could not capitalize.
- With 5:36 left in the first period, coincidental penalties sent the teams to a 4v4 on the ice.
- AU's Drew Doyon won the faceoff and seconds later Doyon found the back of the net off an assist from Dylan Rauh.
- When AU went to the penalty kill for the first time on the night, Northland struck after winning the draw and a redirected shot from the point found the back of the net.
- Northland took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
- Early in the third, the Doyon brothers, Drew and Riley found themselves in the penalty box together. Their Spartan teammates were able to kill off the 5v3 which included a highlight sprawling save from goalie Josh Boyko.
- Just 35 seconds after the penalties were killed off, AU tied the game. Shawn O'Malley lit the lamp for the first time with assists from Larry Jungwirth and Drew Doyon.
- The Spartans and Jacks traded off power play chances with neither team able to solve the opposing penalty kill.
- With 8:30 to go in the period, AU went back to the power play. 1:14 into the extra skater, AU struck. O'Malley tallied his second of the night with an assist from Brayden Sampson.
- AU took the 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
- Halfway through the third period, Northland managed to tie the game at 3-3.
- Just four minutes later AU regained the lead. A Jacob Holmers shot rebounded to O'Malley and he buried his chance for his third goal of the night.
- The first AU hat trick in program history was assisted by Holmers and Anthony Tzveyn.
- with 37 seconds to play, Holmers picked up an empty net tally and AU would win 5-3.
 
SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
Goals: Shawn O'Malley (3)
Assists: Brayden Sampson, Anthony Tzveyn, Dylan Rauh, Jacob Holmers, Drew Doyon and Larry Jungwirth (1)
Saves: Josh Boyko (19)
Face offs: Drew Doyon (16-of-31), Jacob Holmers (9-of-10) and Connor Chilton (12-of-20)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's hockey team comes on Friday, November 9 when they travel to Lawrence University. Game time is set 7:00 p.m. in Appleton, Wisconsin.