(Hammond, IN) - Concordia men's hockey hosted Purdue Northwest on Friday night to continue their season. The Cardinals took a 4-2 lead late in the second period, but in a back-and-forth game, Purdue Northwest would come out victorious, winning 7-6 in overtime.
Zachary Janis started the game in net, making 38 saves in 65:00 of play.
The Pride got off to a quick start, recording the first goal just under halfway into the first frame. Concordia would respond late in the period, when Seth Francois fed Brayden Tayles down low, who won a battle and hit Brandon Troyer with a pass out in front of the net, and he would beat the goalie to tie the contest at 1 heading into the opening break.
CUAA would strike first in the 2nd period, too, after Nicholas Twombley would snipe on a 2-on-2 to give the Cardinals the lead. Shane Romback recorded an assist on the goal. Carson Ediger continue the scoring later in the frame, picking up a loose puck in front and beating the goalie to double the lead.
Purdue Northwest responded with a goal soon after, but with just over a minute to go in the period, the Cards would score again, as Nicholas Twombley fed Hunter Kepple, who sent a backhand pass over that was finished by Bryce Iott to make it a 4-2 game heading into the second intermission.
Following a trio of quick goals by the Pride, the Cardinals responded as Quinn Bieniek grabbed a puck off a Riley Smith faceoff win, curled around the top of the circle, and sniped to tie the contest at 5. With 6:27 to go, Brayden Tayles a turnover at the PNW blue line, went in on a 2-on-0, and fed a backdoor pass that was scored by Hunter Kepple to make it 6-5 Cards.
Purdue Northwest would answer late in the frame on a 5-on-3 advantage, and the contest headed into overtime. Both sides produced chances in overtime, but neither could convert, sending the game to shootout, where the Pride would win 1-0 in 4 rounds.
The Cardinals will be back in action next semester after the Holiday Break. They will open 2023 on January 6th, when they host the #20 UM-Dearborn Wolverines.
