ACHA Soars Past Spartans

GENEVA, Ill. – Friday afternoon saw CUW's ACHA team improve to 11-4-1 overall and 3-1-1 in Northern Collegiate Hockey League (NCHL) play after defeating the Spartans of Aurora, 6-4. 

With the win, the Falcons moved to 9-2 on the road.

Just 39 seconds into the contest, freshman Chuck Emme (Glenview, Ill.), on a pass from senior Rex Staudacher (Yorkville, Ill.), found the back of the net to give CUW the early 1-0 lead. 

But the Spartans would respond, scoring two goals and taking the 2-1 lead with 5:32 remaining in the first period.

Less than a minute later, CUW would tie the game with 4:39 remaining, as sharp passing starting with junior Garrett Wilderman (Waukesha, Wis.) to junior Tommy Cassel (Grafton, Wis.) to senior Ian Malcolmson (Waukesha, Wis.), who would find the back of the net would knot the game at two.

The score would remain 2-2 heading into the first intermission. 

The Falcons would strike first early in the second period to retake their lead, as senior John Swiatek (Rochester, N.Y.) fired the puck past the Spartan's goaltender on the power play on a feed from Ian Malcolmson to grab the 3-2 lead. 

Then, with 14:58 left in the second period, the Falcons scored on another power play goal to take a two-goal advantage as Chuck Emme scored on assists from Garrett Wilderman and Ian Malcolmson. 

Once again, Aurora mounted a response, scoring a goal with 12:22 left in the second period to cut the Falcons' lead to 4-3. 

But it was the Falcons who would score the final goal of the second period as Garrett Wilderman found Rex Staudacher, who found an open Tommy Cassell, who ripped a shot past the goaltender to re-establish their two-goal advantage with 7:15 left in the period. 

The third period would see both defenses prevent either team from scoring for most of the period. 

But, with 2:32 left in the game, the Spartans snuck one past the Falcons' goaltender to shrink CUW's lead to one, 5-4. 

Looking to tie the game and force overtime, the Spartans put another skater on the ice and went with an empty net. 

However, it was the Falcons who would benefit from that decision, as senior Lucas Kreuser (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) found the back of the net on an assist from fellow senior Easton Williams (Racine, Wis.) to secure the 6-4 victory. 

In the win, senior goaltender Vincent Falcone (Elgin, Ill.) recorded 56 saves.

Offensively, Garrett Wilderman assisted on four goals, while Rex Staudacher recorded two assists. 

The Blue and White will look to make it two-straight against the Spartans, as they will face Aurora again at the Ozaukee Ice Center on Saturday, Dec. 2nd, with the puck drop slated for 7:30 p.m.