(Canton, MI) Concordia Men's Hockey returned to their home ice Friday evening for a WHAC showdown with the Aquinas Saints. The Saints jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Concordia responded with three goals within two and a half minutes in the second period to knot things up at 3-3. A last-minute goal from the Saints gave them the edge to win 4-3 in the first game of the series.
About halfway into the first period a Cardinal turnover led to an Aquinas opportunity in front of the net. Zachary Janis made the initial save but couldn't stop the rebound, allowing the Saints to go up a goal. Around a minute later, a loose puck gave the Saints' Logan Wesolek a breakaway. Janis was caught between his crease and the puck, which allowed Wesolek to sneak it past to make it a two goal advantage.
The Saints scored a goal three minutes into the second period to go up three. Concordia was finally able to break through on a power play when Carson Ediger scored off of a deflection from Derek Hebner's shot. 18 seconds later Brandon Troyer kept the puck in the zone and found Chase Temple who buried it into the net to pull Concordia within one. Then less than two minutes later Sam Sahr equalized it for Concordia, making it three Cardinal goals within two and a half minutes to draw even before the final period.
Concordia killed two penalties to start the third period, but were unable to find anything offensively. In the final minute of play, and on Aquinas' third power play of the period, the Saints were able to deflect a shot to beat Janis and ultimately give Aquinas the 4-3 win.
The two sides will be back in action Saturday, November 11th when they play in Grand Rapids. Puck drop is set for 7:30 PM at the Southside Ice Arena.
