Falcons Freeze Vikings

APPLETON, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin women's hockey notched its fourth win of the season on Friday night, downing the Lawrence Vikings 3-1. The Falcons entered the third period with a one-goal advantage before picking up a late insurance goal to secure the victory.

Lawrence opened the scoresheet as Sofia Alvarez deposited the puck into the Concordia goal in the game's 15th minute. However, this first-period score would stand as the only time Falcons' junior netminder Kami McCardle (Jackson, Wis.) was beaten on the evening, stopping her next 15 shots faced to record a .962 save percentage.

Despite the Vikings striking first, Concordia sustained offensive pressure throughout the entire first period, registering 16 shots on goal. As such, it was rewarded twice in the final five minutes of the frame, as sophomore Makayla Spejcher (Green Bay, Wis.) and freshman Ella Tuccitto (Inver Heights, Minn.) recorded goals for Concordia. Spejcher's tally came just a minute after Alvarez's, and Tuccitto's go-ahead goal was entered on the scoreboard just 45 seconds afterward.

Neither squad did further damage on the scoreboard in the second period, a zero that was largely in part to the Falcons' penalty kill, mitigating a Lawrence power play late in the frame. The Concordia kill would end up going 2-2 in the contest, marking its sixth game of the season operating at 100%.

The Falcons' defense likewise kept the Vikings at bay throughout the third period, holding the offensive attack to just nine shot attempts, while only five made their way to the net. Junior Amanda Bauer (Waunakee, Wis.) all-but put the game away for Concordia as the clock dwindled, doubling the lead off of an assist from fellow junior Erika Graham (Brighton, Mich.).

Spejcher would lead Concordia skaters with two points and nine shot attempts in the outing.

The Falcons' next contest will see them battle Lawrence again on Saturday, December 9.