Men's Hockey drops season-opening tilt at Lake Forest

MEQUON, Wis. – After one period, the Concordia University Wisconsin Men's Hockey team held a 2-1 lead over Lake Forest in the team's season-opener Friday night. Unfortunately, the Foresters would score once each in the second and third periods, downing the Falcons by a 3-2 score.

THE BASICS

- Final Score: Lake Forest 3, Concordia Wisconsin 2
- Location: Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse – Lake Forest, Ill.
- Records: Concordia Wisconsin 0-1-0, 0-1-0 NCHA; Lake Forest 1-0-0, 1-0-0 NCHA

HOW IT HAPPENED

- It was as good of a start to the season as you'd want for the Falcons as they scored just 1:21 into the matchup when sophomore Anthony Pickering (Sylvan Lake, Alberta) lit the lamp for his first goal of the year. Senior Trammell Lynes (Edmonton, Alberta) and junior Cody Dixon (Hales Corners, Wis.) assisted on the opening score.

- The Foresters, a team receiving votes in both preseason polls, would tie the game up just 2:27 later on a Billy Kent goal. Shawn Nelson assisted on the score, which made the score 1-1 early in the contest.

- CUW would go back up one as freshman Nick Erb (London, Ontario) sent in his first career collegiate goal. Junior Josh Herrington (Aurora, Ontario) assisted on the Erb score.

- The second period saw no scoring until just 2:48 remained as Drew Clerreman tied things up for the Foresters on a goal assisted by Mark Esshaki.

- Kent would deliver the game-winner for Lake Forest four minutes into the third period. The game-winning tally was set up by Shawn Nelson, the second time the duo connected in the contest.

- CUW spent 12 minutes in the box on Friday night, while the Foresters committed seven penalties for 14 minutes in the box. Neither team converted a power play opportunity, the Falcons finishing 0-for-5, while the Foresters went scoreless on four chances.

- Freshman Nick Malvin (Ham Lake, Minn.) got the start between the pipes for the Falcons and finished with 18 saves. His counterpart, reigning NCHA Player of the Year Leo Podolsky, stopped 28 shots as the Falcons finished with a 30-21 edge in shots on goal.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

- The Falcons fell to 1-8-0 in season openers. The lone win came two seasons ago, a 6-2 victory at Lawrence.

- Pickering had an impressive rookie season last year, scoring nine goals in 21 games for the Falcons. He looks to continue that this season and is off to a nice start with the score on Friday.

- The series between the Falcons and Foresters is for the Border Battle Cup, a tradition started last season. The Foresters won last year's series with a sweep in the two games.

UP NEXT

- These two teams will meet in the second stage of the Border Battle series tomorrow in Mequon at 7 p.m. If the Falcons win tomorrow's matchup, a shootout will follow, with the winner of that taking home the Border Battle Cup. A tie or Lake Forest win allows the Foresters to retain the cup.