Men's Hockey rallies for victory with two third period goals at Finlandia

HANCOCK, Mich. – If Cody Kostecki was going to score his first career power-play goal, Friday evening was the perfect time to do so as he propelled Concordia University Wisconsin to a 3-2 victory over Finlandia University in Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association play at Houghton County Arena.

The Falcons trailed 2-1 entering the third period until freshman Dan Szerlip (Newton, Mass.) evened the scoreboard with his third goal of the season. Less than three minutes later Kostecki pounded home the game-winner after the Lions were whistled for an elbowing penalty.

It had been over a month since CUW (5-9-0, 5-4-0 MCHA) last played competitively and used its fresh legs when they mattered the most, the final period. The Falcons outshot the Lions by a 9-6 margin in the final frame and stayed out of the penalty box.

Freshman Jake Hebda (Firestone, Colo.) earned the win between the pipes after recording 26 saves. Troy Chandler recorded 23 saves in the defeat for FU (3-11-0, 3-6-0 MCHA).

Freshman Kyle Gaskin (Kingston, Ontario) scored his second goal of the season – a power-play marker – midway through the opening period, with freshman Devin Stuermer (Milwaukee, Wis.) and freshman Ben Jaremko (Elk River, Minn.) assisting.

FU answered with two goals in the second period, including a power-play success by Collin Saint-Onge. Sean Burke's goal with less than two minutes to play in the middle period pushed the Lions lead to 2-1.

Gaskin found Szerlip for the Falcons second tally of the evening, just under halfway through the final stanza to even the scoreboard.

CUW and FU conclude their two-game MCHA series on Saturday at 3 p.m.