Fox Valley Ice Arena was the host to a match-up of top four programs in No. 3 Aurora University and No. 4 Trine University. The opening game of the two-game weekend series for first-place in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association on the line went the Spartans way as the hosts scored three goals in the third period to break a 3-3 tie and win 6-3.

FINAL SCORE: #3 Aurora University 6, # 4 Trine University 3
LOCATION: Geneva, Illinois - Fox Valley Ice Arena
RECORDS: #3 Aurora University 17-3-0 overall; and 11-2-0 NCHA; #4 Trine University 16-3-1 overall and 10-2-1 NCHA


- Spartan senior Matt Weber played in his 100th career NCAA game.
- Weber is the third Spartan to reach the 100 game mark, joining LA Grissom and Josh Boyko.
- Hassan Akl set a new single season mark for points with his two goals on the night.


 - The two highly ranked teams went back and forth in the opening period but neither was able to find a way past the opposing goalie.
- Spartan Jacob Mucitelli had six first period saves.
- 2:27 into the second the Spartans went to the power play and 30 seconds later AU capitalized.
- Jacob Brockman got the games scoring started with an assist from Juliano Santalucia.
- Trine tied the game at 1-1 just 33 seconds later.
- In the start of a wild period, AU regained the lead just over a minute later. Hassan Akl scored his first of the night with Brockman and Matt Weber assisting.
- A few minutes later, after killing off a penalty and going on the power play, the Spartans gave up a short-handed goal. Trine scored to tie the game 2-2 7:44 into the second.
- At 13:18 of the second, Trine took a 3-2 lead.
- The Spartans responded once again just over a minute after, tying the game at 3-3.
- Landry Schmuck scored his Division III leading 22nd of the season. Mathis Bedard and Santalucia assisted on the equalizing goal.
- The game would remain tied for the final five minutes of the second and head to the third 3-3.
-  3:22 into the third, AU scored the eventual game-winning tally. Jakson Kirk lit the lamp with helpers from Lukas Sedlacek and Chayce Schmidt.
- Three and a half minutes later, senior Matt Weber, playing in his 100th career game scored.
- Weber's goal was assisted by Eddie Paulissian and Keaton Lipsett and AU led 5-3.
- At 10:18 of the third the Spartans returned to the power play and the unit needed 41 seconds to strike.
- Akl scored his second of the night to all but seal the contest. Schmuck and Simon Diaz had assists on the games final goal.
- The Spartans battled off two penalties in the final minutes as Mucitelli and the defense stood up to the test.
- When the final horn sounded, AU had won the first of the two game series 6-3.


POINTS: Hassan Akl, Landry Schmuck, Juliano Santalucia, Jacob Brockman and Matt Weber (2)
GOALS: Hassan Akl (2)
ASSISTS: Juliano Santalucia (2) 
SAVES: JaCob Mucitelli (24)


Next scheduled action for the Spartan men's hockey team comes on Saturday, February 1 when they host #4 Trine University. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois.