(Byron Center, MI) - The Concordia Men's Hockey were out in the west side of the state Saturday night, wrapping up WHAC regular season play against the Aquinas Saints. In what was a low scoring, back-and-forth fight, the Cardinals would score with 0.3 seconds remaining to sweep the weekend series and secure the 4th-seed for the upcoming WHAC tournament.
Zachary Janis made the start in net for Concordia, making a massive 35 saves in the victory.
The opening period would prove to be a back and forth battle, with each side getting opportunities on goal, but it would be the Cardinals who struck first when Hunter Kepple fed a pass across the offensive blue line to Shane Romback on the power play, and he hit Quinn Bieniek with a feed in the high slot, allowing Bieniek to spin and snipe the top right corner to give Concordia the early lead. CUAA would hold onto the advantage through the end of the frame, making it a 1-0 contest at the first break.
The middle frame provided another even period, with Aquinas outshooting the Cardinals 12-10 in the 20 minutes of play, but both goalies stood firm, and the sides headed into the final intermission with the score still 1-0.
Aquinas continued to pour on the pressure in the 3rd period, scoring at the 5:19 mark to make it a 1-1 game and firing 15 shots on target in the final frame. Zachary Janis stood tall to the rest of the test, however, and with time expiring, gave his Cardinals one last chance to win in regulation. CUAA would take in advantage of their chance, as Nicholas Twombley fired a shot to the net that Garrett Benoit tipped into the back of the net with 0.3 seconds remaining to secure a thrilling 2-1 victory for the Cards.
The Cardinals will be back in action next Friday, February 17th when they head out to Pittsburgh for a nonconference contest against the Duquesne Dukes. Puck drop is set for 9:20pm at the Alpha Ice Complex.
