CUW Keeps the Mequondulac Cup

MEQUON, Wis. – Less than 24 hours after their first matchup, the CUW ACHA team took down the Sabres of Marian University with a final score of 8-0 to move to 10-4-1 overall and 2-1-1 in Northern Collegiate Hockey League (NCHL) action.

At the 11:03 mark in the first period, on the power play, CUW freshman Chuck Emme (Glenview, Ill.) snuck his tight-angled shot past the Sabres' goaltender and the pipe to take the 1-0 lead. Assisting Emme were seniors Ian Malcolmson (Waukesha, Wis.) and Garrett Wilderman (Waukesha, Wis.). 

The Falcons extended their lead with 3:26 remaining, as senior Trenton Sherman (Farmington, Minn.) fed fellow senior Rex Staudacher (Yorkville, Ill.) unmarked near the blue line. With the puck at his stick, Staduacher launched a shot from distance that found its way past the goaltender and into the back of the net for the 2-0 lead.

Just 34 seconds in the second period, CUW took the 3-0 lead as Chuck Emme netted the one-timer off a pass from Lucas Kreuser (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.), who received the puck from Trenton Sherman. 

Concordia's offense continued to pour it on later in the second period as senior defenseman EJ Halleck (Cape Coral, Fla.) played the puck into the center of the ice, finding junior Tommy Cassel (Grafton, Wis.). With his back to the goal, Cassel quickly tapped the puck over to Garrett Wilderman on the right side of the goal, who ripped the shot past the Marian goaltender to secure a 4-0 lead.

In the third period, the Falcons would double their lead. Lucas Kreuser scored the first with assists from Trenton Sherman and Chuck Emme to go up 5-0. The sixth Falcons' goal came on the break as senior Easton Williams (Racine, Wis.) passed the puck to a charging Ian Malcolmson, who put it away. 

With 6:55 left, Garrett Wilderman found the back of the net following sharp passing from Tommy Cassel and junior Brandon Ballweg (Woodbridge, Va.) The eighth and final goal came from Easton Williams off of passes from EJ Halleck and freshman Michael Sobczak (Wood Dale, Ill.) to secure the 8-0 victory.

With the win, the Falcons knotted up their series with Marian at one apiece. To settle the tiebreaker and to decide which team would claim the Mequondulac Cup, CUW and Marian went into a three-man shootout.

In the first round, Marian scored, while CUW's shot went off the pipe.

In round two, senior Ian Robertson (Calgary, Alta.) bounced back and saved the Sabres' attempt. With the momentum behind his back, Lucas Kreuser leveled the shootout score a one apiece, following an array of moves to make the Sabres' goalie off-balanced.  

Round three saw Ian Robertson come up with another huge save to give CUW the chance to clinch the cup. Ian Malcolmson secured the cup for the Falcons, going top-shelf to take the 2-1 shutout win and keep the Mequondulac Cup. 

In the shutout win, Ian Robertson totaled 23 saves. Offensively, CUW converted on two of nine power play opportunities. 

From here, ACHA will enjoy a small break before hitting the ice again on Dec. 1^st at Aurora.