The Fox Valley Ice Arena hosted a pair of ranked NCHA foes Friday afternoon in the Aurora University Spartans and the Green Knights of St. Norbert College. AU defeated St. Norbert for the first time in program history. A power play tally in the second period from Spartan
Jack Jaunich which made him the new AU all-time career leader in goals proved to be the game-winner while
Alec Schwab scored his first career goal and Spartan goaltender
Kolby Thornton stopped an AU record 65 shots.
FINAL SCORE: #12 Aurora University 3, #5 St. Norbert College 1
LOCATION: Geneva, Illinois - Fox Valley Ice Arena
RECORDS: Aurora University 11-3-2 overall and 7-0-2 in the NCHA; St. Norbert College 9-4-1 overall and 6-1 in the NCHA
- 7:41 into the first period the Green Knights grabbed a 1-0 lead on an even-strength goal.
- The visitors dominated the opening 20 minutes of action in shots, but with a 1:40 left the Spartans were able to find the back of the SNC net to tie the game.
-
Adam Keyes got the equalizer on an assist from
Gio Procopio.
- The teams went to the first intermission tied 1-1.
- In the second period, a power play goal with 12:20 left gave AU a 2-1 lead.
-
Jack Jaunich chipped it in the back of the net to tally the power play goal with
Adam Keyes and
Gio Procopio having assists.
- With the power play goal,
Jack Jaunich became the new AU All-Time career leader in goals with 35, surpassing former teammate
Riley Doyon.
- Late in the second with 1:47 left,
Alec Schwab scored his first career goal to extend the Spartans lead 3-1.
Gio Procopio and
Hassan Akl recorded the assists.
- AU led 3-1 going into the second intermission.
- The Spartans fought off the Green Knights over the final 20 in the third and kept the two goal lead at 3-1.
- Spartan netminder
Kolby Thornton had a tremendous night, making 65 saves in the winning effort.
Points: Gio Procopio (3) and
Adam Keyes (2)
Goals: Adam Keyes,
Jack Jaunich, and
Alec Schwab (1)
Assists: Gio Procopio (3)
Saves: Kolby Thornton (65)
Next action for the Spartan men's hockey team comes on Saturday, January 7 when they host St. Norbert College. Puck drop is slated for 3:00 p.m. at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois.
