Falcons Eat Up the Eagles

MEQUON, Wis. – It was all Concordia in the NACC opener for the birds on Tuesday. The Falcons cruised to an 18-3 victory to open NACC play and move to a winning record at 5-4 on the year.

The Falcons dropped six goals on the Eagles in the first quarter with freshman Max Esposito (Gaithersburg, Md.), freshman Chase Drexler (Vernon Hills, Ill.), sophomore Dylan Loftus (Chicago, Ill.), senior Keijo Day (Esko, Minn.), and senior Kyle Fuller (Roseville, Minn.) all finding the back of the net. Case Drexler blew the goal horn twice in the opening frame.

The Falcons continued the goals on in the second quarter like maple syrup on a warm pancake with freshman Pat Ryan (Western Springs, Ill.), Chase Drexler, freshman Gio Nowotarski (Reading, Pa.), Keijo Day and Drexler again lighting up the scoreboard.

The Eagles got the last laugh with a goal with 1:13 left in the second quarter but trailed 11-1 going into halftime.

Max Esposito started the third-quarter scoring with a pair of goals off assists from Pat Ryan and Keijo Day.

Day made it a 14-1 game off a pass from Hans Milchling.

After an Edgewood goal, freshman Hans Milchling (Cockeysville, Md.) joined the scoring party.

Senior Chris Smith (South Elgin, Ill.) gave CUW a 16-3 lead going into the fourth quarter.

CUW finished the game with fourth-quarter goals from sophomore Adam Verner (Portage, Mich.) and sophomore Dylan Loftus (Chicago, Ill.).

The flock feasted on Tuesday with 12 different players adding a point.

CUW had three different five-point performances with Keijo Day at three goals and two assists, Chase Drexler with a game-high four goals and an assist and Max Esposito with three goals and two assists.

Concordia held a 57-33 advantage in shots on Tuesday. Max Esposito and Keijo Day both had nine shots.

Freshman Hunter Swazey (Escondido, Calif.) won 11 faceoffs against the Eagles.

Junior Adam Nichols (Meridian, Idaho) earned the victory with seven saves on eight shots. Junior Evan Leden (Waukegan, Ill.) had six saves on eight shots and freshman Justin Kopp (Rochester, Minn.) stopped both of the shots he faced.

Max Esposito caused three turnovers on Tuesday.

The Falcons picked up 42 ground balls in the victory with junior Jack Gromosky (Danville, Ind.) leading the way with six.

Saturday will be a big NACC matchup when the Falcons fly south to take on the NACC "favorite" Eagles of Benedictine.