Notables
-The Saints have out-scored teams 26-9 in the third period this season
-St. Scholastica leads 4-1-0 all-time
-Shots on goal: CSS-30, AU-39
-Penalties: CSS-9, AU-7

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GENEVA, Ill. (csssaints.com)- The St. Scholastica men's hockey team defeated Aurora University (Ill.) 4-3 on a Derek Sutliffe (Las Vegas, Nev./Odyssey Charter School (Langley Rivermen-BCHL) ) power-play goal in the third period as the Saints split with the series with the Spartans in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NHCA) action.

Three Goal First
 The Saints would get a power play opportunity in the opening three minutes of the game, after the Spartans received a two minute penalty for slashing. A minute into the power play, Aurora would score short-handed, putting them on the board first with a score of 1-0. The Saints and the Spartans fought hard against each other in close game play for the next few minutes. This was until Aurora was given an advantage with a two minute power play due to a hooking penalty called on CSS. The puck would stay mostly in the Saints zone, but St. Scholastica successfully fended off the Spartans and the penalty kill ended.

Eight minutes into the game and ten seconds after the penalty ended, Kristofer McKinzie (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Marshall School (Minnesota Magicians-NAHL)) and Brandon Parrone (Peoria, Ariz./Brophy College Prep (Melfort-SJHL) ) assisted Josh Hansen (Chilliwack, British Columbia/Unity Christian School (Chilliwack-BCHL) ) to tie up the game 1-1. The teams would continue with close, physical game play until a minor penalty would be called on Aurora for boarding with seven minutes left in the period.

CSS would start the power play, but this would only last 14 seconds as St. Scholastica would also get a minor penalty for boarding. Now at 4-on-4, the Spartans would still have the upper hand due to another CSS penalty, this time for tripping. Using the extra 4-3 man advantage, Aurora would score to take the lead back 2-1.

With two minutes left in the period, the Spartans would have another penalty called on them, giving the Saints a power play. CSS would have a few shots on goal, but the team was not able to get any past the Spartan goalie. The period would end and the score would be 2-1, Aurora leading, going into the second.

Close Second
Four minutes into the second period, a CSS player had a penalty called on them for tripping, giving Aurora a power play. The Saints would limit the Spartans to only two shots during the time, and the power play would end two minutes later. With nine minutes remaining in the period, the Saints would receive another penalty, giving the Spartans another power play, but this too but would be fought off.

Hansen, assisted by Brandon Millin (Port Moody, British Columbia/Heritage Woods HS (Notre Dame Hounds-SJHL) ) and Mark Whiteley (Surrey, British Columbia/Holy Cross HS (Marian University)), would get past the Aurora defense to get his second goal of the game and the second goal of the game for St. Scholastica with less than seven minutes left in the period.

With four minutes remaining in the period, two St. Scholastica players received minors penalties at the same time, giving Aurora another advantage and chance to score. With only 20 seconds left in these penalties, Aurora would get sent to the penalty box for holding. The St. Scholastica penalties would then soon after run out, giving the Saints a power play. Brett Radford (Campbell River, British Columbia/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame (Canmore-AJHL)) would use this to his advantage, and with the help of McKinzie and Millin, would get a power play goal. This goal would put the Saints in the lead at 3-2 to start the third period.

Down to the Wire Third Period
A minute into the third, coincidental penalties of hitting after the whistle were called on both CSS and Aurora. There would be a power play three minutes later, after an Aurora player was sent to the penalty box for tripping. St. Scholastica had a few blocked shots, but the power play would end with a minor penalty called on CSS for tripping. Aurora would use this advantage to tie up the game 3-3.

The Saints would be be given another power play due to a penalty being called on Aurora for hooking. It wouldn't take long for Derek Sutliffe (Las Vegas, Nev./Odyssey Charter School (Langley Rivermen-BCHL) ) to take advantage and score, with Kale Derkson (Regina, Saskatchewan/Sheldon Williams Collegiate/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame (Notre Dame-SJHL)) assisting. This would give CSS a 4-3 lead at the midway point of the period. Aurora would try and come back by pulling their goalie at the end, but St. Scholastica shot them down. The game would end in St. Scholastica's favor 4-3.

Notable Performances
Millin had the most shots on goal for the Saints, with six. Sutliffe had five shots on goal and Kyle Star (Langley, British, Columbia/Brookswood (Trail Smoke-BCHL)) shot four.

St. Scholastica goalie Peter Megariotis (Anaheim Hills, Calif./Canyon HS (Adrian)) saved 36 out of 39 shots on goal he faced to earn the win. This is the most shots he has saved and faced in a single game this season.

Up Next
For the last time this season, the Saints will host a two-game series against Concordia University (Wis.) at Mars Lakeview Arena beginning February 3. Puck drop for the first conference game is scheduled for 7 p.m.