Aurora deals Men's Hockey first home loss

MEQUON, Wis. – Aurora built a two-goal lead in the first period and was able to hold on, handing the Concordia University Wisconsin Men's Hockey team its first home setback of the 2017-18 season. The Falcons, who are now 6-2-1 on the year, couldn't overcome the slow start in a 4-3 final.   

THE BASICS
- Final Score: Aurora 4, Concordia Wisconsin 3
- Location: Ozaukee Ice Center – Mequon, Wisconsin
- Records: Concordia Wisconsin 6-2-1, 3-2 NCHA; Aurora 2-6-2, 1-3-1 NCHA

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Spartans struck twice in the opening stanza with Tim Santopoalo scoring the game's first goal nine minutes in. Aurora would add a shorthanded goal with 3:35 left in the period off the stick of Rihards Marenis. On the shorthanded goal, Falcons goaltender Jack Romanuik (Melfort, Saskatchewan) was injured and Nick Malvin (Ham Lake, Minn.) replaced him for the remainder of the game.

- CUW got on the scoreboard 4:18 into the second on the second score of the year from freshman Nick Guerra (Victoria, British Columbia). Matt Valure (Hermantown, Minn.) found Guerra for the score, which cut the Aurora lead to 2-1. The Spartans would respond at the 8:47 mark on a power play goal by Josh Delezenne.

- The Falcons once again got within a goal at the 14:24 mark of the second period. Jim Pearson (Ashton, Ontario) scored on a deflection off a shot from Braydon Barker (Red Deer, Alberta). Barker, along with Dante Hahn (Victoria, British Columbia) tallied assists on the play.

- The Spartans had another answer on a fortunate bounce with 1:10 left in the period. After a Spartans shot sailed well wide of Malvin, the puck bounced right back to a perfect rebound position for Aaron Roschinsky to make the score 4-2 heading into the final stanza.

- The final period was dominated by the Falcons in terms of puck possession, but CUW was only able to cut the Aurora lead to 4-3. It was Hahn who tallied the third-period score with Josh Adkins (Victoria, British Columbia) picking up an assist.

- Malvin finished the game with 14 saves in 42:09 of action. Romanuik tallied seven stops for the Falcons. Josh Boyko made 20 saves in gaining the win for Aurora.  

UP NEXT
- The Falcons will visit Lake Forest for an NCHA tilt tomorrow night. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.