The Aurora University men's hockey team returned to Fox Valley Ice Arena for their conference opener against the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons. The Spartans were defeated in the home contest, with a final score of 5-3.


FINAL SCORE: Concordia University Wisconsin 5, Aurora University 3
LOCATION: Fox Valley Ice Arena - Geneva, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 0-2-1 overall and 0-1-0 in the NCHA, Concordia University Wisconsin 2-1-0 overall and 1-0-0 in the NCHA


- The Spartans opened the scoring with five minutes remaining in the first period when Juliano Santalucia netted his first goal of the season. 
- Shortly after, Hassan Akl extended the Spartan's lead 2-0 with two minutes left in the opening period. Akl was assisted by Giovanni Procopio and Chase Broda.
- AU took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
- 3:36 into the second period, CUW reduced their deficit by scoring an even-strength goal, making it 2-1.
- The Falcons then added two more even-strength goals at 5:56 and 7:56, taking a 3-2 lead.
- AU faced penalty trouble in the period, allowing the Falcons to capitalize on the power play with 5:01 left in the period.
- The Spartans trailed 4-2 after two periods.
- Early in the third, the Falcons found the back of the AU net to extend their lead to 5-2.
- Spencer DenBeste made his mark for the Spartans, scoring his first goal of the season and his first in his AU career at 7:05 of the third. Chase Broda and Hassan Akl recorded the assists.
- The Spartans picked up the tempo in the third but were unable to get pucks into the CUW net and fell by a final of 5-3.


Points: Chase Broda and Hassan Akl (2)
Goals: Juliano Santalucia, Hassan Akl, and Spencer DenBeste (1)
Assists: Chase Broda (2), Giovanni Procopio and Hassan Akl (1)
Saves: JaCob Mucitelli (22) and Matt O'Donnell (10)
 

Next action for the Spartan men's hockey team comes on Friday, November 3 when they travel to Concordia University Wisconsin. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Mequon, Wisconsin.