A highly successful 2022 calendar year for Aurora University athletics came to an end on Saturday afternoon with yet another win, this time the Spartan men's hockey team defeating the visiting Cobbers of Concordia College 3-2.


FINAL SCORE: #10 Aurora University 3, Concordia College Minnesota 2
LOCATION: Geneva, Illinois - Fox Valley Ice Arena
RECORDS: Aurora University 10-3-2  overall and 6-0-2 in the NCHA; Concordia College Minnesota 5-5-1 overall 


- The teams played a scoreless first period with quality scoring chances on both ends of the ice.
- Spartan net-minder Kolby Thornton had 15 first period saves.
- 5:49 into the second, the Spartans struck. Simon Boyko put AU ahead with an assist off the face-off from Gio Procopio.
- Seconds later, the Spartans went on the penalty kill but Concordia scored with the man advantage to tie the game with 13:18 left in the second.
- Just over a minute later the Spartans had to kill another Cobber power play.
- Concordia added their second power play tally and led AU 2-1 with 11:35 left in the second period.
- Late in the third, a defensive rush from Brendan Blair resulted in Blair slamming home a rebound to tie the game 2-2 with 4:26 on the clock. Jack Jaunich and Carson Riddle had assists.
- The game went to the second intermission tied 2-2.
- Concordia started the third with just over a minute of power play time remaining but quickly the ice went to four on four.
- 10 seconds into the four on four and with 18 seconds until AU went to a power play the Spartans struck.
- Derrick Budz scored the eventual game winning goal with assists from Jack Jaunich and Connor Smith.
- The Spartans fought off the Cobbers over the final 19:10 in the third and kept the one goal lead at 3-2.
- AU would win the final contest of 2022 3-2.


Points: Jack Jaunich (2)
Goals: Derrick Budz, Brendan Blair and Simon Boyko (1)
Assists: Jack Jaunich (2) 
Saves: Kolby Thornton (40)
 

Next action for the Spartan men's hockey team comes on Friday, January 6 when they host St. Norbert College. Puck drop is slated for 3:00 p.m. at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois.