Concordia University Wisconsin

MEQUON, Wis. - The Concordia Wisconsin ACHA men's hockey team fell to the DePaul Blue Demons 5-4 on Friday night at the Ozaukee Ice Center to open up conference play. The Falcons dropped to 2-11 on the season with the loss.

The Birds' offense came out firing, as freshman defender Krstan Dukic (Oak Creek, Wis.) and sophomore forward Grayson Radakovich (Fox Point, Wis.) scored in the first three minutes of the game to give their team a 2-0 lead.

Sophomore forward Dylan Pomillo (Oswego, Ill.) added another goal on the power play to extend Concordia Wisconsin's lead to 3-0. The goal was assisted by sophomore defender Jackson Lord (Mequon, Wis.).

The Blue Demons got on the board late in the first period to cut their deficit to two goals heading into the locker room.

In the second period, DePaul continued to chip away at the lead, netting its second goal of the game to trail by one.

With four minutes left in the second frame, the Blue Demons scored a short-handed goal to tie the game at three heading into the final period.

With a five-on-three advantage, Pomillo put CUW back in front seven minutes into the third period, giving his team a 4-3 lead with his second goal of the night. The goal was assisted by senior forward Rocco Cicirello (Mequon, Wis.) and junior defender Nolan O'Malley (Chicago, Ill.) 

However, the Blue Demons responded with a goal of their own on a five-on-three advantage to even the score and force overtime.

Within the first 21 seconds of sudden-death play, DePaul netted the game-winner to secure the overtime victory in the first game of the series. 

CUW outshot DePaul 34-33 overall. Pomillo led the Falcons with two goals, while Cicirello earned two assists on the night. Senior goalkeeper Austin Bartell (New Berlin, Wis.) recorded 28 saves.

The Falcons will host the Blue Demons again tomorrow at 4 p.m. in Chicago, Illinois to close out the series.