ACHA Hockey Ousts Marian in Hap Cup Semifinals

FOND DU LAC, Wis. - The Concordia Wisconsin ACHA Hockey team advanced to the NCHL Hap Cup Championship Game on Saturday afternoon, topping the Marian Sabres 6-3 in the event's semifinal matchup. Freshman Chuck Emme (Glenview, Ill.) tallied a first-period hat trick in the contest just a day after another three-goal performance in the quarterfinals.

Emme opened the scoring in the fifth minute of play, weaving through the Sabres' defense and finding the back of the net. His second goal of the game came just over three minutes later, doubling Concordia's lead on a breakaway. Junior Garrett Wilderman (Waukesha, Wis.) found Emme with a cross-ice pass on the man advantage with 8:56 remaining in the frame, as the freshman scored to find a natural hat trick in his second consecutive game.

Wilderman would go on to find a goal of his own early in the second period, burying a rebound off the stick of senior Trenton Sherman (Farmington, Minn.). Marian cut into the deficit as the frame wound down, as DJ Horne put the Sabres on the board. The Concordia lead would be trimmed to two in the opening minute of the third, but the Falcons regained the three-goal advantage just over the midway mark of the period. Freshman Rocco Cicirello (Mequon, Wis.) found junior Tommy Cassel (Grafton, Wis.) in the slot, who capitalized on the opportunity to give Concordia a 5-2 advantage.

Marian snagged another goal late in the period before senior Lucas Kreuser (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) found an empty net in the final seconds of play to ice the 6-3 victory for the Falcons.

Senior netminder Ian Robertson (Calgary, Alta.) recorded 28 saves for Concordia in the contest.

The Falcons will compete for the Hap Cup title on Sunday afternoon against the DePaul Blue Demons for the second-straight year.