The Aurora University women's hockey team hosted game one of the 2022-2023 NCHA Slaats Cup Playoffs against Trine University on Friday afternoon. Six Spartans recorded goals in the contest and sophomore Darci Matson earned her 100th career point in the third period. AU defeated Trine 7-2. 


FINAL SCORE: #3 Aurora University 7, #6 Trine University 2
LOCATION: Fox Valley Ice Arena - Geneva, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 20-4-1 overall , Trine University 8-16-0 overall 

 
- The Thunder took a 1-0 lead 2:04 into the first period. 
- Midway through the period, Ellie Visser and Rachel Campoli had a two on one advantage over the Thunder goaltender. Campoli found the back of the net with help from Visser and the Spartans tied the contest 1-1.
- With 2:26 minutes remaining in the first, Campoli tallied her second of the night to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead. Ellie Visser and Stephanie Schmunk assisted on the play. 
- 5:46 into the second period, Olivia Buzzelli and Mak Cooke found the stick of Ellie Visser who recored her third point of the night and extended the Spartans lead by one.
- Less than two minutes on the clock in the second, Olivia Buzzelli scored a back hand tally on assists from Ava Eid and Peyton Elliott. 
- Heading into the second intermission, AU led 4-1.
- Ava Eid joined in on the scoring action with 10:44 remaining in the third. Eid was assisted by Allyson Richards. 
- Just seconds later, Julianna Gallenero takes it from the blue line and goes to the forehand and chips it up and under the crossbar to make it 6-1. 
- With 8:02 left on the clock, Trine scored to make it 6-2.
- Sophomore Darci Matson scored a unassisted short-handed tally earning her 100th career point. Matson becomes the first Spartan to reach triple digits in AU women's hockey program. She now has 29 goals on the season.
- The Spartans controlled the remainder of the period and were victorious 7-2.


Points: Ellie Visser (3) Mak Cooke, Rachel Campoli, Ava Eid, and Olivia Buzzelli (2)
Goals:  Rachel Campoli (2) Ellie Visser, Olivia Buzzelli, Ava Eid, Julianna Gallenero, and Darci Matson (1)
Assists: Mak Cooke and Ellie Visser (2)
Saves: Tia Glube (7)


Next action for the Spartan women's hockey team comes on Friday, February 25 when they host game two of the opening round of the NCHA Slaats Cup Playoffs. Puck drop is slated for 3:00 p.m. at the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois against Trine University.