Johnson’s hat trick leads Men’s Hockey to first win of the season
Box Score: CUW 5, LFC 2
MILWAUKEE - Concordia University
Wisconsin's men's hockey team returned the favor to Lake Forest
College on Saturday afternoon at the Bradley Center with a 5-2
victory. After giving up a flurry of goals the
night before, Russell Johnson scored two goals in the third period
to finish with a hat trick and give the Falcons their first win of
the season during Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association play.
Johnson (sophomore, Monticello, Minn.) also added an
assist on the Falcons second goal of the contest to finish with
four points. The hat trick was the second in program history with
Sam Aide recording the first against MSOE on Jan. 20, 2009.
Less than 24 hours after giving up five unanswered
goals to the Foresters on the road, CUW shifted its offense into
high gear scoring four goals in the final period to cap an exciting
victory. The five goals are the most scored by the Falcons thus far
in the season.
Freshman Josh Lehr (Appleton, Wis.) earned the victory
between the pipes for CUW after recording 25 saves. The win was the
first of his career.
CUW opened the contest with a quick power-play goal
after 33 seconds ticked off the clock when Johnson smashed a
one-timer in the back of the net. Sophomore Shay Klitzke
(Annandale, Minn.) and sophomore Lukas Allen (Lakeville, Minn.)
assisted on the goal.
The quick scoring to open periods continued when LFC
(2-2-0, 2-2-0 MCHA) responded in the second session when Craig
McDowell found the back of the net just 51 seconds into the period.
Things remained even as both teams entered the second intermission
with a 1-1 tie on the scoreboard.
The flood gates opened in the third set of 20 minutes
for CUW (1-6-1, 1-4-1 MCHA) as four goals were scored. Klitzke
snuck a shot by Foresters' goalie Austin Erney up the middle to
push the Falcons back in front 2-1 at the 1:22 mark of the third
period. Junior Jake Furey (Cedarburg, Wis.) and Johnson assisted on
the tally.
Johnson recorded his second score of the night; a
perfectly placed shot over the left should of LFC's goalie for what
ended up being the game-winner. Freshman Mario Delasandro
(Pittsburgh, Pa.) was credited with the assist on the play after he
took the initial shot before it was saved and deflected to
Johnson.
Senior Mark Henke (Cando, N.D.) jumped into the
scoring run with an insurance goal of his own to give CUW a 4-1
lead, its largest of the game. Sophomore Dan Shilts (New Richmond,
Wis.) and freshman Dustin Jonasson (West Fargo, N.D.) were each
credited with an assist on the score.
The Foresters were searching for a way to respond and
scored on an unusual goal with less than five minutes remaining in
the game. Anthony Martinez was behind the Falcons net and passed it
back towards the middle but it deflected off Lehr's leg pad and
into the net.
Johnson completed the best-game of his CUW career with
an empty net goal with 1:10 remaining in the contest. Jonasson and
freshman Lukas Allen (Lakeville, Minn.) assisted on the goal.
CUW will take a lengthy stretch off from competition
before returning to the ice on Friday, Nov. 25 for a two-game set
with St. John's University (Minn.) in St. Cloud, Minn.
