FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – After a slow start, the Marian University men's hockey team finished strong in an 8-2 rout of visiting Aurora University inside the Blue Line Family Ice Center, this evening, Nov. 26.

The Spartans (0-4) took an early 1-0 lead on Cameron Choate's first career goal just 46 seconds into the game, but the Sabres (3-4) came back with five unanswered tallies on the way to a convincing home win. Fourteen Sabres cracked the scoresheet, led by Derek Thorogood's two goals. Scott Milnthorp, Ben Morgan, Adam Ritchie, Matt Williams, Brian Berger and Hunter Stewart all registered 2 points apiece in the winning effort.

Upstart Aurora, competing in its first NCAA season and still in search of its first win of the year, got on the board first with Choate's score less than a minute into the contest. It wasn't until the 8:05 mark when Milnthorp tied the game with his first of the season on assists from Ben Morgan and Adam Ritchie.

Marian came out with something to prove in the second period, firing off 10 shots and scoring five times to take a commanding 6-2 lead into the second intermission.

Registering goals for the Sabres were Thorogood, Williams, RJay Berra and Ryd, followed by a Warren Carter goal with just 8 seconds left in the period.

Carter's score came on a tremendous individual effort and he beat the Spartan netminder through the five-hole. Ritchie and Morgan were each credited with their second assists of the game on the goal.

Thorogood added one more for good measure at the 5:33 mark of the third period. Mark Whiteley fed Stewart, who backhanded a pass to Thorogood that was one-timed past Aurora goalie Kyle Weiner for the goal. Brian Berger provided the final tally with 4:57 remaining in the game.

The Sabres will enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday before heading to St. Peter, Minnesota to do battle with St. Olaf on Saturday, Nov. 29, followed by a Sunday meeting with host Gustavus Adolphus.