DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque men's hockey team fell 7-3 against top-ranked St. Norbert College on Saturday. A late Spartans offensive outburst sliced the lead late to just a goal 3-4 to start the final period.

The #6 Green Knights (3-1-0, 2-0-0 NCHA) scored twice in the first 10 minutes to take a 2-0 lead early. Shortly afterwards, Nikita Borodayenko and Zach Burfoot set up Owen Hardy, who scored to cut the lead to 2-1. The Spartans defense held the Green Knights at bay for the rest of the period, as the score stayed at 2-1 going into the first intermission. The Spartans killed two penalties in the second period, and the Green Knights led 3-1 going into the third period. The Spartans unleashed a flurry of shots early in the period, but the Green Knights capitalized on a power play and extended their lead to 4-1 with ten minutes remaining. With seven minutes left, Maksim Lakic scored off a pass from Kaden Dundas. Two minutes later, Borodayenko took advantage of a power play, taking a pass from Hardy and Jack Paweski and finding the back of the net to cut the deficit to one. The Green Knights scored three power-play goals late and the game finished 7-3 in favor of St. Norbert.

Borodayenko won eight of his fifteen face-offs, took three shots, and added a goal and an assist to help lead the Spartans offense. Hardy's only shot of the game resulted in the Spartans' first goal. Hardy also added an assist in the contest. Burfoot tallied an assist and won four face-offs. Matt Downie took three shots on goal and blocked a shot on Saturday. Dazza Mitchell made 23 saves across 50 minutes in goal. The penalty boxes were full all night, as the two teams combined for 15 penalties. Six of the game's 10 goals were scored during power plays.

Up Next

The Spartans will travel to #11 Trine for a two-game NCHA series this upcoming weekend. Game one is set for Friday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. (ET) and game two will take place the next day at 4:00 p.m. (ET).