Falcons land Five in ACHA Division II Top-10 Rankings
MEQUON, Wis. – The CUW ACHA team is seeing its most dominant season in program history and it is not very difficult to understand why. The Falcons currently claim four of the top-five spots for leading scorers in the nation as well as the eighth-ranked goalie in ACHA Division II. Not only are the Falcons scoring at one of the highest rates in program history, but they are also playing one of the toughest schedules they have ever faced. At the time of the first ACHA Division II poll at the beginning of November, 11 of the 17 Falcon opponents were in the top 15 of the initial regional polls. In the current polls, the Falcons are finishing their season with four-straight regionally-ranked opponents including two nationally-ranked opponents. Leading the Falcon offense is the group of Alex Way, Lucas Kreuser, Ian Malcolmson, and Sam Weiss. In eighth place at the goalie position is Mack Willy.
A senior from Ottawa, Ontario, Alex Way has recorded 34 goals and 24 assists in his 24 games played which lands him in first place with 58 points. Way is in his first year with the Falcon ACHA team after three years spent with the Falcon NCAA Division III team. "We knew that we had a special team coming into the season," said Way. "We have come together as one to achieve the goal of, hopefully, winning a national championship. The friendships that we all have on the team play a big part in our success. Coach Shea has done a fantastic job with the group. I've been lucky to play with the guys and things have been clicking for us." On top of his team-leading 58 points, Way has recorded six game-winning goals.
A senior from Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, Kreuser has netted 20 goals and assisted on 33 more which places him in second place within the ACHA Division II with 53 points. Kreuser is also in his first year with the Falcon ACHA team after a four-year stint with the Falcon NCAA Division III team. "Personally, I think there was a point in the season where everything just seemed to click," said Kreuser. "Every line, pairing, and more seemed to be improving. The team is very close off the ice as well. We're an older team so maturity plays a big role. As far as my success I cannot say there has been any individuality involved. Most of them either come from my line-mates or are given to them. As a line, we are super close off the ice which makes it easier to click on the ice." Kreuser has two game-winning goals with the latest coming against the MSOE Raiders on Jan. 7.
A junior from Waukesha, Wisconsin, Malcolmson has recorded 15 goals and 36 assists which has him slated in fourth in the ACHA Division II standings with 51 total points. Malcolmson is in his first year with the Falcon ACHA team after spending time with the Wildcats of Northern Michigan University. "The boys have been playing well and are excited for the stretch coming up this next couple of weeks," said Malcolmson when asked about the team this season. Malcolmson has recorded two game-winning goals on the season with the latest coming against Sault Ste. Marie on Nov. 11.
A senior from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Weiss has recorded 17 goals and 29 assists on the season which gives him a Division II fifth-place total of 46 points. Weiss is in his first year with the Falcon ACHA team after he spent time with the Division II ACHA team at Aurora University. "I would say that I am blessed to play with such great players this year," said Weiss. "Playing alongside my teammates has been an absolute pleasure as they are a significant reason for my success this year and make my job as a center easy. Also, our team's success is based on everyone buying into one goal of trying to win a national championship." Weiss has scored three game-winning goals on the season with the latest coming at No. 14 Wisconsin – Eau Claire on Dec. 10.
A senior from Tacoma, Washington, Willy has accumulated a 15-4 record between the posts with a 2.90 goals-against average. Willy is in his fourth season as a member of the CUW ACHA team. "We have a really promising and exciting team this year," said Willy. "The skill we have added has brought great competition for us which has been a great motivator and teacher for everyone on the team. Personally, I've benefited from the experience and skill that we have just by practicing with great players and playing against hard opponents. Our talent combined with all the personalities of the group have already made the year special and I am very grateful for everything that we have." Willy has recorded two shutouts with one against Concordia Ann Arbor on Oct. 14 and the other against the Wisconsin Badgers on Oct. 28.
Head Coach Shea Kiltzke is in his second year at the Falcon helm and he has never been so excited for a team. "We have been able to put a team together for this season that has culminated from a core of veterans that have been on the ACHA team for three to four years, transfers, and guys that played on Concordia's NCAA team in previous seasons. Just looking at our roster going into training camp, we had high expectations of what we could accomplish this season and had conversations from day one about how it has to be a team effort to reach those goals. Every single guy on the roster plays a role for us to be successful. To start the season, it took us a couple of weekends to figure out who we are. Once we found line combinations and power play/ penalty kill units that fit, we started playing the game like I knew we could. We have nine guys with 20+ points and a handful of guys just behind them. Everyone on our team is contributing. Looking at the National point leaders, we have four of the top five guys with Way, Kreuser, Malcolmson, and Weiss. I am not surprised that this group of guys is sitting at the top. They add maturity to our team and a competitive level that allows us to win every game we play. Mack has been the stable backbone of this team ever since he started here. I can't speak highly enough about Mack. He is a major component of our success, and the confidence he brings to our team allows us to be one of the best teams in the country. This team is a special group! I am extremely grateful to be a part of it, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish in the second half of the year!"
The Falcons begin the toughest part of their 2022-23 season heading toward the finish line with four, currently ranked opponents to end the regular season.
