News

#2 Aurora University reasserted themselves as the team to beat after their sweep of #22 DePaul University. Aurora now holds a four point cushion over DePaul and #3 Marian University, who are tied for second place, as well as the tie breaker over each. Lots can still happen but Aurora is looking like a very formidable opponent. Neither Robert Morris University – Maroon or #21 Marquette were able to put any distance between each other after their series as they split the four available points. This means RMU is still one point out of the last conference tournament spot. Northern Michigan University won a much needed three points up in Marquette, MI against Lewis University. NMU now occupies the number eight spot in the conference standings and needs to win out to have a chance of moving up to the sixth spot.

 

#2 Aurora University sweeps #22 DePaul University:

#2 Aurora University used the first game of the series as a reminder of the firepower they wield. Starting off their eight goal night was Patrick Sofer, assisted by Nick DiSimone and Andrew Bergquist, at 5:11. At 9:29 Aurora made the score 2-0 when Connor Jonnason, from Sofer and Greg Sauers, found the back of the net. A delay of game penalty on #22 DePaul University’s Jerry Fronek put Aurora on the powerplay at 10:16. After 40 seconds on the man advantage Aurora increased their lead to three. Netting the powerplay goal was Patrick MacDonald, assisted by Sauers and Tyler Richison, at 10:56. Aurora would put one more puck home before the end of the period. Scoring at the 13:34 mark was Bergquist off of a feed from Christopher Laporte. At the end of the first period Aurora held a 4-0 lead and had out shot DePaul 21-10.

 

Aurora kept up the offense in period two, while keeping DePaul off the scoreboard. Ricardo Salinas scored the fifth goal of the night for Aurora at the 7:51 mark of period two, assisting was DiSimone. Then with 1:42 remaining in the period Nick Mardirossian, assisted by Jonnason and Sofer, increased the lead to six. Period two came to a close with Aurora leading 6-0.

 

Period three was a repeat of period two, Aurora scoring two goals and DePaul unable to solve goaltender Bradley Neal. In an effort to change their fortunes DePaul made a goaltender change to start the period. The first half of the period was scoreless, then at the 12:34 mark Sofer notched his second goal of the night. He was assisted by Jonnason and DiSimone. The final goal of the night crossed the goal line at 15:25 and was scored by Aurora’s Raurie Petrich, assisted by Trevor Hoth and Salinas. At the final horn Aurora held a commanding 8-0 lead.

 

In net for the victorious Spartans was Bradley Neal, stopping all 32 shots he faced. Credited with the loss in 40 minutes of play for the Blue Demons was John Cassata, stopping 31 of the 37 shots he faced. In 20 minutes of relief John Schueler turned away 16 of the 18 shots put on goal by Aurora.

 

In game two DePaul finally was able to break their two plus game scoring drought, striking first at 7:45. Scoring the goal for DePaul was Thomas Feldman, unassisted. However, the lead was short-lived. Scoring the equalizer for Aurora was Christopher Laporte, assisted by Andrew Bergquist, at 8:30. The rest of the period would be played scoreless and came to a close with the score tied at one apiece.

 

Aurora came out firing in period two, putting up 21 shots on goal, four of which made it past DePaul goaltender John Cassata. Scoring goal number two for Aurora was Ricardo Salinas, unassisted, at the 1:23 mark. Just over a minute later Laporte found the back of the net for a second time, assisted by Greg Sauers. The lead for Aurora became three at 8:46 when Raurie Petrich tickled the twine, he was assisted by Vinny Palermo. Bergquist notched the fifth goal of the night for Aurora at 9:12, with an assist credited to Laporte. As the horn sounded, ending period two, Aurora had built a 5-1 lead.

 

Period three was all about the goaltending, as each goaltender kept the opposing team scoreless. Resultantly, the 5-1 lead for Aurora became the final score.

 

Winning his second game of the series was Bradley Neal, turning back 30 of the 31 shots on goal. Taking his second loss on the weekend was John Cassata, stopping 39 of 44 shots on goal.

 

Robert Morris University – Maroon splits series with #21 Marquette University:

Robert Morris University – Maroon won Friday night’s game 7-3 and #21 Marquette University won Saturday’s game 7-2. However, as of publication, the game sheets had not been posted for a more detailed account of each game.

 

Northern Michigan University takes three out of four in Marquette, MI:

Northern Michigan University jumped out to an early lead in game one. Scoring 3:02 into the first period was NMU’s Justin Pantle, assisted by Jake Gatenby and Nolan Kremer. They increased their lead to two at the 12:00 mark when Ty Markovich, from Kremer and Jay Shifra, put the puck past Lewis University goaltender Colton Edling. Lewis got on the scoreboard, cutting NMU’s lead to one, at 16:43. Scoring for Lewis was Matt Anderson, assisted by Dillon George. As the teams left the ice for the first intermission NMU held a slim 2-1 lead.

 

While there was no scoring in period two it only took 30 seconds into period three before NMU regained their two goal advantage. Scoring his second goal of the game was Pantle, assisted by Max Gruzdev and Alexander Svoboda. NMU increased their lead to three off the stick of Wesley Zegan, assist credited to Gruzdev, at the 8:16 mark. Lewis tried to claw back. Scoring their second goal of the night was Austin Ahlers, assisted by Justin Adams and John Schwarz, at 14:57. Despite putting 25 shots on net in period three Lewis could get no closer and the game ended with NMU up 4-2.

 

Stopping a remarkable 57 of 59 shots on net in the NMU victory was Zach Kooi. In defeat Colton Edling turned away 25 of the 28 shots he faced for Lewis.

 

Game two was a back and forth affair. Lewis’ Nick Madej, unassisted, started the scoring at 4:44. At the 10:17 mark Matt Sharpe, assisted by Erik Pikowitz, increased the Lewis lead to two. After 20 minutes of play Lewis led 2-0.

 

Period two would be a reversal of period one, with NMU scoring the two goals netted during the 20 minutes of play. Max Gruzdev, assisted by Justin Pantle and Alexander Svoboda, cut the Lewis lead in half at 1:51. A little over three minutes later Kyle Welters scored the equalizer for NMU, credited with assists were Ty Markovich and Alexander Svoboda. Heading to the locker rooms at the conclusion of the second period NMU and Lewis were knotted at two.

 

Lewis regained their lead at the 8:30 mark of the third when Austin Ahlers found the back of the net. He was assisted by Matt Anderson and Madej. Then with 1:28 to go in regulation time NMU tied the game back up. Scoring for NMU was Wesley Zegan, assisted by Gruzdev. Period three came to a close with NMU and Lewis tied 3-3.

 

In net for NMU was Zach Kooi, stopping 36 of 39 shots on net, and in net for Lewis was Libor Gallik, stopping 35 of the 38 shots he faced.

 

Non-Conference:

#3 Marian University split with #4 Grand Valley State, winning 3-0 on Friday and losing 3-0 on Saturday.

#25 St. Mary’s University of MN took both games against Concordia University of WI, winning 6-3 on Saturday and 6-4 on Sunday.

 

Idle:

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh