MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin men's hockey team opened the new year with a 5-2 victory over Hamline on Friday night. With the win, the Falcons improved to 6-7 on the season.
 
Concordia wasted little time building momentum, scoring three unanswered goals in the opening period to take early control. Junior Elowan Orme-Lynch (Paris, France) opened the scoring after junior Sawyer Wirsing (Arundel, Maine) forced a turnover and worked the puck into the offensive zone. Junior Matteo Orme-Lynch (Paris, France) helped set up the play, earning an assist along with Wirsing.
 
Just 43 seconds later, junior Alex Ochitwa (Prince George, B.C.) doubled the lead, tipping in a feed from junior Riley Klugerman (Aurora, Ont.) just outside the crease for his fifth goal of the season.
 
The Falcons closed out the first-period scoring in the final minute, as sophomore Levi Carter (Keremeos, B.C.) converted on the power play. Sophomore Jack Guvenal (Georgetown, Ont.) and senior Derek Humphreys (Spokane, Wash.) recorded the assists, giving CUW a 3-0 advantage heading into the first intermission.
 
Nearly 10 minutes into the second period, Humphreys added to the Falcons' lead, controlling the puck in the offensive zone and finishing at the net for his seventh goal of the season to make it 4-0.
 
Hamline responded with two goals late in the second period to cut into the deficit, but Concordia quickly regained control early in the third. Elowan Orme-Lynch netted his second goal of the night, once again assisted by Matteo Orme-Lynch and Wirsing, to seal the 5-2 victory.
 
Junior goaltender Blake Hazelton (Lake Orion, Mich.) made his fifth apperence of the season and delivered a strong performance in net, recording a career-high 31 saves and posting a .939 save percentage.
 
Leading the Falcons in shots was junior Logan Kroyman (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), with five of the teams 33 shots. Matteo Orme-Lynch and Ochitwa both finished with four shots.
 
The Falcons and Pipers will conclude the series on Saturday at the Ozaukee Ice Center, with puck drop scheduled for 2 p.m.