MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin men's ice hockey team bounced back with a 6-3 victory over Lake Forest College, improving to 3-5-0 overall and 2-3-0 in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) play.
The Falcons faced an early challenge, trailing 2-0 after the first period. Lake Forest capitalized on a major penalty to take a one-goal lead, followed by an even-strength goal that extended their advantage to two.
However, CUW came out strong in the second period, starting their comeback just 1:50 into the frame. Freshman Devon Savignac (Sudbury, Ont.) scored his second goal of the season, with assists from fellow freshman Levi Carter (Keremeos, B.C.) and senior Zach Brydges (Woodbury, Minn.).
The Falcons continued to press and leveled the score at 2-2 on a power play at the 14:03 mark. Junior Derek Humphreys (Spokane, Wash.) found the back of the net for his fourth goal of the year after a well-executed play. Freshman Jack Guvenal (Georgetown, Ont.) started the sequence, firing the puck into the attacking zone, where freshman Connor Van Weelie (Mississauga, Ont.) redirected it to Humphreys, who had plenty of space to score. For Guvenal, it was his fourth assist of the season, while Van Weelie earned his third.
Lake Forest regained the lead with a power-play goal of their own, making it 3-2 late in the period.
However, CUW remained composed and responded with another equalizer. Sophomore Alex Ochitwa (Prince George, B.C.) stole the puck in the offensive zone and passed it to sophomore Riley Klugerman (Aurora, Ont.), who fed Guvenal at the back post. Guvenal tapped in his second goal of the season to make it 3-3, with Ochitwa recording his first assist and Klugerman adding his second.
The game was tied 3-3 heading into the third period, where CUW came out with renewed energy. Just 3:48 into the period, freshman Evan Forrest (Spruce Grove, Alta.) redirected a pass from Guvenal past the Lake Forest goaltender for his first collegiate goal, giving the Falcons a 4-3 lead. Ochitwa also earned an assist on the play.
The Falcons' defense tightened up in the final frame, with goaltender Gabe Rosek (East Lansing, Mich.) making key saves to keep the Foresters at bay. CUW would seal the victory with two empty-net goals after Lake Forest pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. Guvenal scored his second goal of the game into the empty net, assisted by junior Noah Roitman (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) and Rosek, who earned his first career assist on the play, to make it 5-3.
Guvenal then completed his four-point night with an assist on the second empty-net goal, helping secure the 6-3 win.
The Falcons outshot Lake Forest, 40-35, and were led by Guvenal's two goals and two assists, along with a +5 plus-minus rating. Savignac was strong in the faceoff circle, winning 10 of 15 draws.
Rosek finished with 32 saves in goal, earning the victory and contributing offensively with his first assist.
CUW will look to extend their winning streak to two games when they face Lake Forest again in their next matchup, with the Border Battle Cup on the line.
