GENEVA, Ill. – Marian University women’s hockey (8-16-1, 5-10-1-0 NCHA) fell to Aurora 5-1 in the first game of an NCHA Slaats Cup Quarterfinals match-up.
- Aurora was able to get out to a dominating start and scored a pair of goals separated by just 59 seconds in the middle of the period.
- The Spartans extended the lead to 3-0 4:04 into the second period.
- Senior Hannah Cunha put Marian on the board just 1:45 later for her second goal of the year, assists to juniors Allie Kieffer and Dayna Jones.
- From there the defenses were able to take over with the Spartans scoring two empty-net goals to put the final at 5-1.
- Aurora held a 44-24 advantage in shots with Marian recording double-digit shots in the final two periods after being outshot 17-3 in the first 20 minutes.
- Neither team found the back of the net on the power play with Marian having five chances and Aurora two.
- Face offs were heavily in favor of the Spartans by a 47-28 margin.
- This was the first postseason meeting between the two programs.
- Marian will need a regulation win to force a mini-game.
