MEQUON, Wis. – The Falcons opened the 2026 postseason in dramatic fashion Friday night, rallying for a 3-2 victory over Aurora in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Slaats Cup Quarterfinals. Concordia improves to 23-2-1 on the season with the win.
The Falcons were tested early, fighting off two penalties in the opening period to keep the game scoreless.
Concordia broke through first when freshman Michaela Gerum (Wausau, Wis.) tucked the puck in from behind the cage off assists from sophomore Kayla Gomes (Harrow, Ontario) and freshman Riley Veldman (Arvada, Colo.).
Aurora answered in the final minute of the first period, silencing the Ozaukee Ice Center and sending the teams into the intermission tied.
The Spartans carried that momentum into the second period, scoring just three minutes in to take the lead and holding that advantage deep into the second.
Momentum shifted back to the Falcons in the closing seconds of the second period. Freshman Abby Hansberger (Elk River, Minn.) won a critical faceoff in the offensive zone and scored directly off the draw to tie the game with just 3.9 seconds remaining.
The third period was tightly contested, with sophomore goaltender Gretchen Paaverud (Ramsey, Minn.) coming up with several key stops to keep Concordia in the game.
The Falcons finally broke through late when junior Mackaylan McGown (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) used her speed to drive a shot on net. Senior Makayla Spejcher (Green Bay, Wis.) crashed the netand slipped the rebound through the five-hole for the game-winning goal.
Concordia continued to pressure Aurora's empty net in the closing moments, but the Spartans had the puck bounce their way. In the final seconds, Mackaylan McGown secured her game-best 14th faceoff win of the night to help seal the victory.
The Falcons dominated the stat sheet, holding a 45-15 edge in shots on goal. Paaverud finished with 13 saves in the win.
Concordia blocked 12 shots, with junior Brenna-Grace Dittmer (Chatham-Kent, Ontario), sophomore Scout Stromberg (Tomahawk, Wis.), McGown and junior Ava Litkey (Kenosha, Wis.) each recording two blocks.
Aurora was awarded five power plays, but the Falcons limited the Spartans to just four shots with the extra skater.
CUW also controlled the faceoff circle, winning 31-21. Sophomore Taylor Heleniak (Mercer, Wis.) went 10-for-16 at the dot, winning 62.5 percent of her draws.
Friday marked Concordia's first postseason victory over Aurora, improving to 1-2-0 all-time against the Spartans in Slaats Cup Playoff meetings.
The Falcons can advance to the Slaats Cup Semifinals with a win or tie on Saturday, while Aurora will look to force a mini game with a victory.
