The Aurora University women's hockey team defeated the Northland College Lumberjills 5-4 in an overtime thriller. With just over 30 seconds left in the game and coming out of a timeout from Spartan Head Coach Jackie Kooistra, Emma-Lee Martel buried a shot from the far point after Nicole McKernan won the draw directly to Martel.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 5, Northland College 4 (OT)
LOCATION: Geneva, Illinois - Fox Valley Ice Arena
RECORDS: Aurora University 10-4 overall; Northland College 4-10 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first period saw both teams have power play chances throughout the opening session but neither could convert. 
- The score remained 0-0 going into the first intermission.
- Northland struck first at 17:23 in the first period to give the Jills a 1-0 lead.
- Marissa Dunbar got the Spartans on the board two minutes later to even the score 1-1. She was assisted by Nicole McKernan.
- AU got a power play opportunity after a Northland interference penalty.
- The Spartan power play unit wasted little time with a goal from Emma-Lee Martel to put the Spartans in the lead. Taylor Sims and McKernan had helpers.
- Allyson Reilly tied the game for Northland with a power play goal late in the second period
- The game went into the second intermission tied at 2-2
- A Lumberjill tripping penalty gave the Spartans an early power play chance in the third period.
- Olivia Monzel gave the Spartans the lead with the team's second power play goal of the afternoon. Emma-Lee Martel had the assist.
- Northland capitalized on a breakaway chance and tied the game 3-3 with 13:25 left to play in the third period. 
- AU took the lead again with a Nicole McKernan goal with 7:33 left in the game. Monzel and Mak Cooke had assists.
- The high-scoring affair continued when Northland tied the game with 1:49 left in the third period on a breakaway. 
- The score remained 4-4 at the end of regulation 
- In the final minute of overtime, Emma-Lee Martel retrieved the face-off win and ripped a slap shot past the Northland goalie to give the Spartans a 5-4 win.

SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
Points: Nicole McKernan (4), Emma-Lee Martel (3) and Olivia Monzel (2)
Goals: Emma-Lee Martel (2), Nicole McKernan and Olivia Monzel (1)
Assists: Nicole McKernan (3)
Saves: Chiara Pfosi (21)
 
UP NEXT
Spartans are back in action on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 when they host Lake Forest in a non-conference matchup. Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois.