(Kent, OH) – The Concordia men's hockey travelled to Kent, OH Friday evening to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes in the first game of a weekend nonconference home-and-home series. The game consisted of great goaltending on both sides and an accumulation of 38 combined penalty minutes as Kent State came out victorious, 3-1. 

The action would get off to a quick start in the first, as both sides produced high quality chances on each end, but both goalies would remain solid, keeping the period blank. The Golden Flashes would end up outshooting the Cardinals 12-6 in the opening frame.

Kent State was not slow to get on the board in the middle period, though, as they followed a successful penalty kill with a rush that produced the first goal of the game for either side. Concordia flipped the momentum of the period following the Golden Flash strike, outshooting KSU 18-9 in the middle 20 minutes of play, but could not beat the Kent State goalie. As the sides headed into the second intermission, the Golden Flashes still held a 1-0 lead. 

Kent State would not miss a beat in the third, scoring less than five minutes into the frame to double their lead over the Cardinals. CUAA answered right back, however, as Hunter Kepple picked up a lose puck in front of the Golden Flash net and beat the goaltender for the third shorthanded goal of the season for Concordia. Tristan Waechter picked up an assist on the goal. 

The Cardinals continued their push, but could not overcome the disadvantage of two 5-minute penalty kills in the final frame, and the Golden Flashes would cash in on an empty net chance with 1 second remaining in the contest to clinch a 3-1 win. 

Anthony Seykora had another strong performance as the starter in net for Concordia, saving 29 of the 31 shots that he faced. The Cardinals outshot the Golden Flashes 33-32 over the 60 minutes of play.

CUAA will return home for another chance at Kent State tomorrow afternoon. Puck drop is set for 4:30pm at the Arctic Coliseum in Chelsea, MI.