DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque men's hockey hosted Aurora University in a home weekend series to open play in December and were swept by the Spartans after a 3-5 loss at ImOn Arena on Saturday.
UD scored first at 18:07 of the first period and would end the period knotted at 1-1. UD added a goal in the second and third periods. UD gave up two goals in the second and two goals in the final period (one empty netter). The scorer for the weekend was UD's
Connor Nelson who ended Saturday with the school's first ever hat trick by scoring all three Spartans goals along with the lone goal in Friday night's loss.
Nelson scored at 18:07 of the first after assists by
Lyncoln Bielenberg-Howarth and
Sky Solig. Nelson's second goal of the afternoon was 14:11 of the second on a power-play off assists by
Tyler Alexander and
Chris Beyer. His hat trick happened at 5:00 of the third with once again assists by
Lyncoln Bielenberg-Howarth and
Sky Solig.
UD's defense kept AU out of the net in both power-play opportunities amd blocked 10 shots as a team. UD scored off one of the five power-play chances. UD grabbed seven shots in the first, seven shots in the second and nine in the third period. In faceoffs, the Spartans were 32-75.
Lyncoln Bielenberg-Howarth led with 12-20 trailed by Nate Holf who was 11-19 in faceoffs.
Dakota Meyer took the loss in goal after playing 58:38 and saving 29 opportunities and has compiled 273 saves in the Spartans inaugural season.
UD (0-10-1 overall, 0-8 in NCHA) will travel to face St. Mary's University on Dec. 8 in Winona, Minn. at 7:00 p.m.
Â