Third period proves costly for Men's Hockey in Harris Cup Quarters Opener

MEQUON, Wis. – Lake Forest scored three times in the third period to hand the Concordia University Wisconsin Men's Hockey team a 5-3 setback in the opening game of the Harris Cup Quarterfinals Friday night. The Falcons will now need to win tomorrow night to force a deciding mini-game. If Lake Forest wins or ties on Saturday night, the Foresters will advance to the Harris Cup Semifinals.  

THE BASICS
- Final Score: Lake Forest 5, Concordia Wisconsin 3
- Location: Ozaukee Ice Center – Mequon, Wisconsin
- Records: Concordia Wisconsin 16-8-2, Lake Forest 14-10-2

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The game was tied 2-2 heading into the final stanza but the Foresters took over in the third. Kyler Magus broke the tie 5:10 into the final period and Drew Cleereman made the score 4-2 just over four minutes later.

- The Falcons made things interesting with 1:05 to play as Connor Hogg (London, Ontario) struck after CUW pulled goaltender Nick Malvin in favor of an extra skater. Hogg took advantage with Taylor Gauld (Whitby, Ontario) picking up an assist on the play.

- There would be no comeback, however, as the Foresters scored an empty-net goal with 29.6 seconds left on the clock, securing the 5-3 win. Cleereman tallied his second goal of the night to put the game away. He finished the contest with two goals and two assists.

- The game was scoreless after one period of play but CUW scored quickly into the second period to take a 1-0 lead. Gauld provided the game's first goal, an unassisted score.

- Lake Forest responded just 1:07 later to tie the game, with Zach Feldman providing the tying score. Charlie Izaguirre gave the Foresters their first lead 7:43 into the second on the game's only power play goal. The two teams did an outstanding job of staying out of the box, combining for just three penalties.

- Braydon Barker (Red Deer, Alberta) made sure the Falcons would go into the third period tied as he scored with 1:48 left in the second period. Dante Hahn (Victoria, British Columbia) and Josh Adkins (Victoria, British Columbia) assisted on the Barker score.

- Malvin (Ham Lake, Minn.) totaled 27 saves for the Falcons. Louis-Phillipe De Courcy stopped 34 shots for the Foresters, 17 of those in the final stanza.

UP NEXT
- The Falcons and Foresters will play game two tomorrow at 7 p.m. If CUW wins, a mini-game will take place following tomorrow night's contest. If Lake Forest wins or ties, the Foresters will advance to the Harris Cup Playoffs Semifinals.