Falcons stunned in MWLC Tournament Championship

MEQUON, Wis. – Concordia Wisconsin's dominance in the MWLC came to an end on Saturday afternoon, as Hamline scored the game-winner on a free-position shot with four seconds remaining on the clock to win the MWLC Tournament Championship game.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Hamline 10, Concordia Wisconsin 9
Location: Fitting Field (Mequon, Wis.)
Records: Hamline 15-4, Concordia Wisconsin 12-7

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Falcons had a chance to take the lead with 40 seconds left in the game with a free-position shot but didn't get an attempt off before turning the ball over 14 seconds later. The Pipers then went coast-to-coast to get inside the arc before being fouled.
- Dana Almquist tallied the game-winner from the right-wing of the arc on a free-position attempt to secure the MWLC Tournament Championship for the second-year program.
- Concordia Wisconsin began the contest with five-straight goals and appeared to be on its way to initiating the running-clock rule, but Hamline responded with five goals of its own to tie the game with 7:44 to play in the first half.
- Junior Allison Kurek (Chicago, Ill.) scored less than five minutes before the intermission to give the hosts a one-goal lead, 6-5.
- Exiting halftime, the Pipers rattled off three unanswered goals to take an 8-6 with 20 minutes remaining on the clock in the highly contested. Junior Caitlin Henry (Lansing, Ill.) and sophomore Kristen Kennedy (London, Ontario) each scored over the next nine minutes to put the scoreboard at 8-8.
- Almquist tallied her third marker before sophomore Lauren Paquin (Waukesha, Wis.) again tied the game for the fourth time.
- Freshman Emily Kuhlman (Cold Springs, Minn.), Kennedy and Kurek each ended with a pair of goals. Paquin caused a game-high four turnovers, while freshman Nicole DeMeo (Niles, Ill.) picked up six ground balls and caused two turnovers. Kurek also had three caused turnovers, two ground balls and two draw controls.
- Senior Veronika Metanova (Palatine, Ill.) made 17 saves in the final game of her career.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Concordia Wisconsin made it to the MWLC Tournament Championship game for the third-straight season and had won the previous two by 10 goals each.
- Metanova ends her career as the program's all-time leader in wins (39), saves (517), saves per game (8.48), save percentage (50.1), goals against average (8.71) and is fifth in ground balls (147). She also set the single-season record for saves (191) and save percentage (56.5). Her 17 saves in tied for the fourth-most all-time in a game in program history.
- The Falcons set a single-season program record for goals against average (7.73).

THE OPPOSITION
- Dana Almquist led all scorers with four goals, while Dani Perry had a hat trick and an assist.
- Lexus Tatge picked up a game-high-tying six ground balls, while Molly Dionne made 11 saves in goal.