Milwaukee, WI--The Concordia Falcons overcame a three goal deficit to skate to a 4-4 tie with three power play goals against the MSOE Raiders Friday afternoon at the Bradley Center. Penalties in the second and third periods proved costly for the Raiders who had two skaters (Nicholas Gorup, Michael Tierney) register two points.

Concordia received strong goaltending from junior goaltender Michael Wyenn and two goals from junior winger Jonathan Smith to help complete their comeback Friday afternoon despite being outshot 46 to 20.

MSOE broke into the scoring column first. The Raiders were able to establish a strong presence in the Concordia zone early on and it paid off. Defenseman Aaron Humphries dished the puck to Nathan Bruck, above left circle. Bruck found a crashing Nicholas Gorup to the right of the crease, who slide the puck past an out of position Wyenn for a 1-0 lead at 5:04 of the first period.

The majority of the first period was spent in the Concordia zone as MSOE continued to test a busy Wyenn. MSOE’s heavy offensive attack yielded a second goal in the first period at 18:03. Furrey was able to free himself and stick handle untouched from the center line all the way to net before beating Wyenn just inside the left pipe for a 2-0 lead. Soik tallied an assist on the play and the Raiders ended the period outshooting the Falcons 12-3 in the period.

MSOE continued to apply pressure to the Falcons’ defense and at 4:03 of the second period Bradley Tierney was able to wrap around the back of the Concordia net and sneak the puck just inside the left pipe for a 3-0 lead.

Penalties got the Raiders into trouble during the first half of the second period. A pair of Raider penalties gave Concordia a two man advantage and a fine opportunity to get them back into the contest. The Falcons were able to tally their first goal of the afternoon when Concordia junior, Jonathan Smith corralled a puck bouncing puck and and put it into the back of the net; drawing the Falcons within two.

Concordia appeared determined to come back and at 4:36 of the third period Concordia freshman Jonathan Smith ripped a hard slap shot from just inside the right circle through the legs of Connor Toomey to bring the score to 3-2. It was Smith’s second goal of the afternoon and it changed the complexion of the game from there on.
MSOE penalties continued to provide Concordia with scoring opportunities.

Concordia capitalized on yet another power play opportunity to knot up the score at three’s. A nice pass off the stick of Nicholas Soderberg found Freshman Graylyan Douglas at the top of the slot. Douglas buried a well placed shot just under the cross bar to renew the contest at 6:40 of the third period.

After surrendering a three goal lead on three consecutive power play goals the Raiders were able to regroup. MSOE’s Ben Plocur was able to light the lamp for the Raiders, beating Wyenn for a 4-3 lead.

The Falcons still had plenty of fight left in them. With less than two minutes remaining in the third period Joseph Greg-Douglas was able to give the Falcons new life. Grey-Douglas beat Toomey from the slot, over his stick for the game tying goal.

Neither team was able tally in the extra five minute overtime period. MSOE and Concordia left the Bradley Center with one point each for their effort in a 4-4 tie.