Emme the Overtime Hero as Falcons Advance to Nationals

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Concordia Wisconsin ACHA Hockey team topped the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the ACHA Division II Central Regional Tournament on Sunday afternoon in overtime. The 2-1 victory punched the program's second consecutive and third all-time ticket to the national tournament, having clinched its first berth in 2021.

The Falcons topped Minnesota in last year's tournament as well, winning a 4-3 thriller in overtime.

The Golden Gophers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, putting pressure on the Concordia net before a rebound kicked out to Roy Chebaclo, who sent it into the net.

Minnesota retained the lead for the remainder of the opening period and well into the second before the Falcons found the equalizer. Just a day after being held without a goal for the first time in his last 10 games, freshman Chuck Emme (Glenview, Ill.) continued his offensive dominance to even the contest for the Falcons. A shot from junior Nolan Judge (Glendale, Ariz.) from the blue line struck the crossbar to spark a scramble in the goal crease, and Emme met the puck to snag his 52nd goal of the season.

Neither squad managed to climb ahead before the end of the second period, and likewise, the third period failed to see a goal. Each team had an opportunity on the power play, but their respective penalty kills proved to be up to the task.

The Falcons' defense stood especially tall in the third, allowing the Golden Gophers to put only three shots on goal.

365 days after Concordia ousted Minnesota in the 2023 Central Regional Tournament in overtime, the two squads would once again find themselves needing an extra period to determine a victor.

In the seventh minute of the overtime frame, junior Garrett Wilderman (Waukesha, Wis.) deflected a Minnesota shot attempt before the Falcons forced a turnover in the defensive zone. Senior defenseman Rex Staudacher (Yorkville, Ill.) flipped a perfect pass over the Golden Gophers' defense to the tape of Emme on a breakaway, who deked to his backhand before sliding the puck into an empty net to clinch the win. His second goal of the game granted the Falcons the victory, punching the team's second consecutive ticket to the national tournament.

Senior netminder Vincent Falcone (Elgin, Ill.) stopped 32 of 33 shots faced in the contest, posting a save percentage of .950 or better for the seventh time this season.

Concordia will head to Maryland Heights, Missouri for the ACHA Division II National Tournament, which will begin on Monday, March 11.