NORTHFIELD, Minn. – A 3-0 deficit after the first period was too much for the St. Olaf College men's hockey team to recover from, as the Oles dropped their season opener by a 6-2 score to Aurora University on Friday night at St. Olaf Ice Arena.

Aurora (1-0-0) scored three goals in the span of 6:13 in the first period before senior Tuukka Totro got St. Olaf (0-1-0) on the board early in the second. The Spartans got a pair of third-period goals from Larry Junwirth, who had two goals and two assists on the night, to start their season with a win and deal the Oles a loss in their first game under head coach Cole Workman.

After a scoreless opening 11 minutes, Riley Doyon broke the deadlock for Aurora at 11:23 of the opening period, starting a stretch of three goals in a little over six minutes for the visitors. Dylan Rauh scored less than two minutes later to double the Spartans' lead before Roberts Baranovskis gave Aurora a 3-0 lead at the first intermission at 17:36.

Totro blasted one in from the right point on the power play at 3:42 of the second period for St. Olaf's first goal of the young season to bring the Oles within two. The senior's goal was assisted by classmate Luke Ranallo and first year Filip Dusek, who earned his first collegiate point.

Totro's goal was the lone tally of the second before, as the Spartans maintained their 3-1 lead until Jungwirth scored his first of the night at 3:55 of the third. Senior Paul Stehr scored his second-career goal at 16:11 of the third period off a give-and-go from sophomore Jared Pedersen, who collected his first point as an Ole.

Jungwirth grabbed his second of the period at 16:27 of the third before Liam Stirtzinger tallied an empty-net goal with 26 seconds to go to close out the scoring.

Sophomore transfer Cooper Lukenda made 13 saves over the final two periods for St. Olaf after replacing Noah Parker, who made six saves in the opening 20 minutes. Josh Boyko earned the win for Aurora with a 19-save performance.

The two teams conclude their season-opening series on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. at St. Olaf Ice Arena.