Despite outshooting visiting Bloomington Kennedy 37-19 Thursday night, SPA fell for the second time this season, this time to an opportunistic Eagles team that received strong goaltending from senior Jimmy Mrozek.

“They were tough to play against all night,” SPA coach Matt Funk said after the game. “That was a gritty win by a good hockey team.”

The Spartans struck first when Evan Dahlseide boomed in a slap shot from straight on midway through the first period, though the lead lasted barely two minutes, as Kennedy’s Anders Gelecinskyj’s first of two goals, a slap shot from just inside the blue line after an SPA turnover.

The Eagles then scored three unanswered in the second period, the first coming at the 3:18 mark on an unassisted breakaway from Edge Choudek, while Gelecinskyj’s second made it 3-1 4 minutes, 59 seconds later on a close-range tap in. Matt Saarinen would add a goal at the 12:33 mark before Noel Parker brought it back to 4-2 less than a minute later.

Despite opening the third with a major power play opportunity after SPA’s Jack Johnston was called for boarding late in the second, Kennedy managed just three shots on the man advantage. SPA would go on to outshoot the Eagles 13-4 in the third, but managed to beat Mrozek just once, on Oliver Hoeschen’s first goal of the season with 5:24 left, while the Kennedy netminder made several sharp saves to preserve the win. “They played a good hard game, stuck to their game plan, and had great goaltending,” said Funk. “There will be no excuses from us. They came to our place and outworked us and won the hockey game. It is back to work for us tomorrow.”

Up next: The Spartans will host No. 2A Breck (5-1-0) Saturday at 2:30 at the Drake.