GENEVA, Ill. -- The Lawrence University men's hockey team fell 4-1 to No. 2 Aurora University on Friday in the opening game of a Harris Cup quarterfinal playoff series at Fox Valley Ice Arena.
    The Spartans led just 1-0 heading to the third period and used a pair of empty-net goals late to pull away. Jeb Dee scored his first goal of the season for the Vikings late in the third period. 
    Aurora (22-3-1) needs a win or a tie on Saturday to win the series. Lawrence (7-16-2) needs to win Saturday to force a decisive mini-game. 
    The Spartans scored on the power play at the 8:56 mark of the opening period for a 1-0 lead. Aurora went 1-for-8 on the power play for the game as Lawrence was whistled for 10 penalties. The Vikings were 0-for-2 on the power play.
    The score was still 1-0 going to the third period, but Aurora's Landry Schmuck scored 5:43 into the third for a two-goal edge. Schmuck then scored an empty-net goal with 3:17 left for a 3-0 lead.
    Lawrence battled back when Dee scored off assists from Tiziano Pauchard and Hayden Johnson with 1:25 left to trim the lead back to 3-1. Lawrence pulled its goaltender again, but Lukas Sedlacek scored another empty-net goal to seal the win.
    Nolan Mahaffey stopped 35 shots for the Vikings. Jacob Mucitelli made 20 saves for the Spartans.