Adrian College vs Aurora University Men’s Hockey. (Photo by Mike Dickie)
#2 Adrian College (4-0-0) at #3 Aurora University (4-0-0)
Friday, November 14 at 7 PM | Saturday, November 15 at 4 PM CST
Adrian leads all-time series 24–3–0
Week three of the Division III season features another top-tier matchup, as the No. 2 Adrian College Bulldogs travel to Geneva, Illinois, to face the No. 3 Aurora University Spartans at the Fox Valley Ice Arena. Both programs enter the weekend undefeated at 4–0–0 after strong starts that moved each team up one spot in the latest DIII Hockey News poll.
Adrian continues to prove why it belongs near the top of the national rankings. After sweeping preseason No. 2 Utica in their opening weekend, the Bulldogs followed with another sweep against Marian University, outscoring opponents 13–2 across two games. Defender David Clarke was outstanding, registering five points on one goal and four assists. His eight points in four games rank tied for third in Division III and first among all defensemen. Forward Ian Amsbaugh has also been a key playmaker, leading the Bulldogs with six assists, which places him second nationally. Adrian’s power play went three for ten last weekend, while the penalty kill went five for six.
Aurora stayed perfect with back-to-back wins over Lake Forest College, scoring seven goals in each contest. Goaltenders Bodee Weiss and Matt O’Donnell continue to form one of the best tandems in the country. Weiss stopped 23 of 24 shots in his first start of the season, while O’Donnell turned aside 32 of 34 the night before. Combined, they own a 1.50 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage. Forward Hassan Akl paced the Spartans’ offense with three goals on the weekend, while the team as a whole has converted on 14 percent of its shots, an impressive efficiency rate that has fueled their early success.
History favors Adrian heavily in this matchup. The Bulldogs have won 24 of 27 all-time meetings, including a 2–0 victory in last year’s NCHA conference semifinals where the Bulldogs advanced to play St. Norbert in the finals. Aurora’s three wins have all come within the past two seasons, signaling progress for a program that reached the NCAA quarterfinals last year before falling to Geneseo 7-4 after holding an early lead. Although the Bulldogs defeated the Spartans in the conference playoffs last season, Aurora got the best of them during the regular season, winning both games in Adrian 4-1 & 4-2, respectively.
Special teams will once again be a deciding factor. Adrian and Aurora both rank among the best in the country, sitting seventh and eighth on the power play and 12th and 14th on the penalty kill. Each team is averaging more than one power-play goal per game and has allowed only one power-play goal against this season. While Aurora’s numbers stand out statistically, Adrian has faced a tougher early schedule, has already proven itself against top-tier competition, & history says Adrian will be a national title contender once again this year.
Aurora will look to change the narrative and defend its home ice, where it went 14–2–0 last season. Adrian will aim to remain unbeaten, continue its push toward the No. 1 ranking (if Hobart ever decides to lose some here and there), and extend its dominance in this series. Puck drops Friday at 7 PM and Saturday at 4 PM CST at the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Illinois.
