GENEVA, Ill. - St. Norbert College ended up settling for a split of a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association series at Aurora University with a 5-4 loss to the Spartans at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

The Green Knights (10-5, 8-2 NCHA) grabbed an early lead when Liam Fraser scored a power-play goal at 4:25 of the first period. Aurora took a 2-1 lead after one period after goals by Spencer DenBeste at 7:47 and Derrick Budz at 15:53.

St. Norbert tied the game at 2-2 when Logan Dombrowsky scored 57 seconds into the second period. Aurora scored next when Jakson Kirk scored at 3:47, but the Green Knights came again to knot the score at 3-3 when Byron Hartley scored at 10:42. Aurora would again take the lead when Kirk scored at 11:48 for a 4-3 lead which carried into second intermission.

The Green Knights opened the third period with a 5-on-3 power play, but Aurora delivered a backbreaking blow when Connor Smith scored shorthanded 31 seconds into the frame. Fraser would score at 16:13 of the third period to bring St. Norbert within 5-4, but it would get no closer.

Fraser, who has a team-high 10 goals this season, added an assist for a three-point game. Dombrowsky had an assist for a two-point game, while Dayton Deics and Adam Stacho had two assists apiece.

St. Norbert outshot Aurora 43-31. Johnny Roberts made 26 saves for the Green Knights, while Matt O'Donnell made 39 saves for the Spartans.

St. Norbert was 1-for-6 on the power play, while Aurora was 0-for-3.