(Fort Wayne, IN) - The Concordia Men's Hockey kicked off their second to last WHAC series of the regular season Friday evening against the 7th-ranked Indiana Tech Warriors. The Cardinals would get on the board first just past the halfway point of the second period, but the Warriors would score three straight afterwards to secure a 3-1 victory. 

Zachary Janis made the start in net for Concordia, making 39 saves in the defeat. 

The first period was an even, back and forth battle, with each side earning a powerplay and the shots being split 9-8 in favor of Indiana Tech during the opening frame. However, both goalies stood firm, shutting the door on what eventually ended as a scoreless first 20 minutes of play. 

Following another 12 minutes and change of 0-0 hockey, the Cardinals would be the first to get on the board during a 4-on-3 advantage, as Shane Romback would grab a loose puck off the faceoff and feed the puck across to Tyler Groth, who walked into the high slot and fired a big slap shot past the Warrior goaltender to give CUAA the advantage. Just 15 seconds later, however, IIT would get on the board off a shorthanded opportunity, and the Warriors scored again later in the frame to carry a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. 

The Cardinals would continue to fight towards evening the contest in the final frame of play, firing 10 shots on goal and earning a powerplay, but were unable to get another puck into the Indiana Tech net. The Warriors would take avantage of a late powerplay, scoring with 1:32 left in the contest to double their lead, finishing the game with a 3-1 score in favor of IIT. 

The Cardinals will return home on Saturday, February 4th for their final game of the season series against Indiana Tech. Puck drop is set for 7pm at the Arctic Edge in Canton, MI.