Two goals from senior defenseman Juliano Santalucia and a pair of power play goals, one each from Santalucia and Lukas Sedlacek helped the No. 4 Aurora University Spartan men's hockey team past the visiting No. 2 Adrian College Bulldogs 4-2 in a non-conference match-up on Sunday afternoon.
FINAL SCORE: #4 Aurora University 4, #2 Adrian College 2
LOCATION: Fox Valley Ice Arena - Geneva, Illinois
RECORDS: #4 Aurora University 12-2-0 overall and 6-2-0 NCHA; #2 Adrian College 10-4-0 overall.
- The Spartans killed off a pair of Adrian power plays in the first period and Matt O'Donnell stopped 18 shots sent his way in the first 20 minutes.
- With 4:06 remaining in the first period, the Spartans struck first.
- Chase Broda ignited the goal horn off an assist from Jake Code.
- AU took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
- The Spartans had 1:57 of power play time to start the second period and needed just 50 of those seconds before going ahead 2-0.
- Captain Juliano Santalucia scored with the extra skater as Code and Landry Schmuck had assists.
- Adrian found a way to get the puck past O'Donnell 4:48 into the second as AU held a 2-1 lead.
- Late in the second and in the final seconds of a power play, the Spartans struck again.
- Lukas Sedlacek scored with Chayce Schmidt and Jakson Kirk having assists.
- AU headed to the second intermission leading 3-1.
- Early in the third, Adrian scored to cut the Spartan lead to one at 3-2.
- The game remained 3-2 as both goalies made saves to keep the game a one goal contest.
- Santalucia put the game to rest with 45 seconds remaining, scoring the empty net tally after blocking a shot on the other end of the ice.
- Jacob Brockman and Landry Schmuck had assists on the games final goal.
- AU celebrated the weekend sweep of Adrian with a 4-2 win in game two.
POINTS: Juliano Santalucia, Jake Code and Landry Schmuck (2)
GOALS: Juliano Santalucia (2)
ASSISTS: Landry Schmuck and Jake Code (2)
SAVES: Matt O'Donnell (33)
Next scheduled action for the Spartan men's hockey team comes on Friday, January 9 when they host Lake Forest College in a non-conference contest. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois.
