The Aurora University women's hockey team returned to the ice for the first time in nearly two weeks for the first game of an NCHA series against the University of Dubuque on Friday night at Fox Valley Ice Arena. Seven different AU players scored a goal en route to a 9-1 victory.


FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 9, University of Dubuque 1
LOCATION: Geneva, Illinois - Fox Valley Ice Arena
RECORDS: Aurora University 6-4-0 overall and 4-3-0 NCHA , University of Dubuque 2-4-0 overall and 2-3-0 NCHA

 
- Just over six minutes into the first period, AU picked up an early lead. Haley Knauf passed the puck out to Molly Matson, who fired it across the ice to Julianna Gallenero for the one timer into the back left corner of the Dubuque net. 
- A Dubuque penalty with 30 seconds remaining resulted in a 5v4 power play that allowed AU to extend their lead with a Darci Matson slap-shot. She was set up by Madison Gasper and Stephanie Schmunk.
- AU put 23 shots on goal and controlled most of the first period with Dubuque only getting three.
- AU carried this 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
- At the 6:46 mark in the second period, AU picked up a goal while shorthanded. Gasper broke away and found herself all alone with the Dubuque goalie before sliding a backhand shot into the net.
- Samira Schmidt gave AU a 4-0 lead off assists from Ellie Visser and Teagan Moffat. Visser found Schmidt for the wrist shot while on a 5v4 power play with six minutes to go in the second.
- Dubuque answered at the 15:28 mark with a goal.
- AU again out shot Dubuque 27-6 in the period and kept their 4-1 advantage into the second intermission. 
- Makenna Brownlee scored her third goal of the season just 33 seconds into the third period off another 5v4 power play. She was set up by D. Matson and Schmunk to give AU the 5-1 lead.
- Another 5v4 power play saw AU gain a 6-1 advantage as D. Matson got in on the scoring action. Knauf picked up a puck in the opponent's defensive zone and passed it to Schmidt, who found D. Matson for her eighth goal of the season.
- AU made it 7-1 at the 7:56 mark in the third. Knauf picked up her third assist of the game as she found Visser who sniped one into the back of the net.
- M. Matson scored her second goal of the game off an assist from Emiliana Cassillo with about six minutes left.
- AU added one more goal as time was expiring. Visser scored her second goal of the game off an assist from Erin Campbell.
- This allowed AU to finish with the 9-1 victory.

 
Points: Haley Knauf, Ellie Visser, and Darci Matson (3), Samira Schmidt, Stephanie Schmunk, Molly Matson and Madison Gasper (2)
Goals: Darci Matson and Ellie Visser (2)
Assists: Haley Knauf (3) and Stephanie Schmunk (2)
Saves: Marie Dedert (16)


Next action for the Spartan women's hockey team comes on Saturday, December 2 when they host University of Dubuque. Puck drop is slated for 3:00 p.m. at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois.