FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men's ice hockey team got back into the win column on Friday evening at the SportONE/Parkview Ice House as they defeated Western Michigan, 6-3, to take a 1-0 lead in the I-69 Cup.
 
Tech would start off the first period strong with three goals in the first 11 minutes of the game, with Reed Kaiser, Joe Molfetta and Jarrett Pfeiffer all lighting the lamp. Jace Childs would score his first of two goals at 13:26 in the second to make it a 4-0 game, but the Stallions would take advantage of some man-up opportunities with a pair of power play goals to cut the deficit in half with 5:26 left in the period.
 
Childs would then give the Warriors another three-goal lead as he converted a penalty shot with 1:48 on the clock, but Western Michigan would respond with another goal just 26 seconds later to make it a 5-3 game heading into the final period.
 
The Orange and Black would keep the visitors at bay in the final 20 minutes of action though while Nick Papandrea scored an insurance goal with 4:46 remaining in the game to give the hosts a 6-3 win and snap a three-game losing skid.
 
Chet Tooker made 28 saves in net to pick up the win for the Warriors.
 
Tech (17-3-1) returns to action on Saturday as they conclude the I-69 Cup with Western Michigan on the road. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. from Wings West Arena.