GENEVA, ILL.--The Hamline University men's hockey team trailed No. 5 Aurora 2-1 within the game's final five minutes. The Spartans put the contest out of reach with goals at 17:35, and an empy-netter at 19:50 of the third period that sealed them a 4-1 victory over the Pipers in Geneva, Illinois on Saturday afternoon.

Hamline falls to 3-8, while Aurora improves to 10-2.

Aurora 4, Hamline 1

The first period featured a strong defensive showing by both teams, with numerous missed shots and saves. Aurora's Andrew Schultz scored the only goal of the period at 10:51, assisted by Landry Schmuck and Hassan Akl, giving Aurora a 1-0 lead. Hamline had multiple opportunities to tie the game, including two power plays due to penalties on Aurora's Lukas Sedlacek, but could not capitalize. Aurora's goalie, Matt O'Donnell, made several crucial saves, maintaining the lead for the home team through the end of the period.

The second period began with an early offensive push from Hamline, featuring missed shots by Jonah Mortenson and Cal Levis III. A penalty on Per Waage at 2:14 gave Aurora a power play, but the Pipers' defense held firm, and the period remained scoreless during this stretch. Hamline capitalized on a power play opportunity with a goal from Carson Simon at 8:24, tying the game 1-1. However, at 17:30, Eddie Paulissian scored for Aurora, breaking the tie and securing a 2-1 lead, which Aurora maintained until the end of the frame.

The third period began with both teams returning from penalties, as the Pipers initiated a power play at 19:49 but ended it without scoring by 19:31. The Spartans took several shots early in the period, with efforts from Chayce Schmidt and Hassan Akl missing the target. A crucial moment came at 17:35 when Juliano Santalucia scored for Aurora, assisted by Jacob Brockman and Hassan Akl, increasing their lead to 3-1. In the closing moments, Hassan Akl sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 19:50, assisted by Jacob Brockman and Keaton Lipsett, finalizing Aurora's victory with a score of 4-1.

Carson Simon stood out for the Pipers with a power-play goal, contributing significantly to the team's offensive efforts. Cal Levis III was active on the ice with five shots and led the team with two blocks while maintaining a 52% faceoff win percentage. Will Matzke contributed with an assist and two shots, showcasing his offensive potential. Maximillian Haselbacher, the goalkeeper, made a notable impact with 41 saves in his appearance for the Pipers.

Highlighting top performers from the Spartans, Hassan Akl stood out with a notable performance, scoring one goal and contributing two assists for a total of three points. Akl also maintained a perfect faceoff percentage of 100 and a plus-minus rating of four, showcasing his all-around impact on the ice. Eddie Paulissian made a significant contribution by scoring a game-winning goal, adding one goal to his season tally. Landry Schmuck played a key role with two assists and a strong plus-minus rating of four. Jacob Brockman excelled in faceoffs, winning 75 percent of his attempts, alongside recording two assists and a plus-minus of three. Finally, Andrew Schultz scored one goal and registered five shots, marking his presence in the offensive zone. Matt O'Donnell stopped 26 shots in net for the Spartans.

Hamline will return to action at TRIA Rink against Concordia (Wis.) on Friday, January 3 at 7 p.m.