Spartans Sneak Away Late

GENEVA, Ill. – The Concordia Wisconsin women's hockey team opened Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) play on Thursday afternoon. The Spartans snuck away with the 5-3 victory to send the Falcons to 0-2-0 on the year and 0-1-0 in the NCHA.

Defense was the name of the game in the first period. Junior Kami McCardle (Jackson, Wis.) collected 14 saves in the first period. The Falcons were also able to fight off a five-on-tree advantage for Aurora in the opening frame.

The teams found the back of the net in the second period.

Sophomore Charlotte Toor (Hartland, Mich.) snuck a top-shelf goal past the Aurora netminder after junior Savannah Hutchins (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) drove the puck down the ice.

The Spartans tied the game with a goal 13 seconds later. The Spartans snuck the puck into the net two minutes later to take the lead.

Aurora added to the lead at the 12:10 mark of the period on a breakaway goal and held a 3-2 lead heading into the third period.

The Falcons started the scoring with junior Olivia Kurtz (Plainfield, Ill.) scoring in front of the net off a pass from junior Brooke Gibson (LaSalle, Ont.) after Makayla Spejcher (Green Bay, Wis.) started the play on a breakaway.

The Falcons leveled the game when junior Natalie Mackrell (Stuttgart, Germany) deflected in a blast from junior Amanda Bauer (Waunakee, Wis.) and a secondary assist to freshman Brenna-Grace Dittmer (Chatham-Kent, Ont.).

The Spartans reclaimed the lead at the 14:51 mark of the third period and iced the game with a short-handed goal at the 17:28 mark.

Kami McCardle collected 36 saves in the battle.

Aurora held a 41-26 advantage in shots on Thursday.

Natalie Mackrell led the flock with five shots.

The Falcons blocked 13 shots in the battle, with Natalie Mackrell, junior Megan Vettraino (Howell, Mich.) and freshman Ava Litkey (Kenosha, Wis.) all blocking two shots.

The two teams will close the season series on Saturday night inside the Ozaukee Ice Center.