Photo by Sam Dunn
Photo by Sam Dunn

Men's Hockey holds on against Trine, clinches home playoff series

ANGOLA, Ind. – For the first time in program history, the Concordia University Wisconsin Men's Hockey team will host a conference tournament series. The Falcons secured the No. 2 seed in the South Division thanks to a 4-3 win over Trine Friday night. CUW held on Friday, jumping out to a 4-0 lead before holding on for the one-goal win.

THE BASICS
- Final Score:
Concordia Wisconsin 4, Trine 3
- Location: Thunder Ice Arena – Angola, Indiana
- Records: CUW 16-6-2, 12-5 NCHA; Trine 6-16-2, 2-13-2 NCHA

HOW IT HAPPENED
- CUW wasted no time building an early lead Friday, scoring two goals 2:32 into play. Nick Guiney (Victoria, British Columbia) tallied the first score 1:29 into play, coming off assists by Taylor Gauld and Nick Guerra.

- Just 1:03 later, Brody Decker (Dousman, Wis.) made the score 2-0 in favor of the Falcons. Casey Esselman (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) and Travis Marit (Assiniboia, Saskatchewan) gained assists on the Decker goal.

- The line of Guiney-Guerra-Gauld produced the next two scores for the Falcons, one coming late in the opening period, and the final one five minutes into the second period. Guerra (Victoria, British Columbia) scored the Falcons third goal with Gauld and Guiney picking up assists. Guiney then tallied his second score of the night, Gauld and Guerra adding assists.

- The rest of the way was a comeback effort by the Thunder, who certainly made the Falcons work for the win Friday. Trine scored 9:11 into the second period, and added two scores in the first 7:07 of the third stanza. Nick Malvin (Ham Lake, Minn.) and the Falcons defense stood strong the final half of the third, securing the one-goal win.

- Malvin finished the game with 29 saves for his 13th win of the season. Aaron Brickman played the final two periods for Trine and turned in a strong effort with 24 saves on 25 shots faced. Brett Young started the game, allowing three goals in the opening stanza.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- CUW will host Lake Forest in an opening round Harris Cup Playoffs series next weekend. The Falcons and Foresters will play two games (Friday at 8, Saturday at 7) at the Ozaukee Ice Center. If the two teams split the first two games, a mini-game will take place Saturday night after the second contest to determine who advances.

UP NEXT
- The Falcons face a tough test to close the regular season tomorrow. CUW is set to face No. 1 Adrian with puck drop set for 3:05 eastern time.