FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Indiana Tech men's ice hockey team split a weekend series with Concordia University, losing Friday night's game at Concordia, and getting the win back in Saturday night's game in Fort Wayne. This moves their overall record to 18-11 and 15-4 in WHAC play.
In game one on the road in Michigan, Concordia came out strong with a power play goal within the first minute of play, but Tech tied it up not much longer when Malik Ali scored an unassisted goal. Concordia fought back pumping five more goals in the back of the net in the first and second period putting Tech down 6-2 after the second period with Aidan Dufort getting the late Warrior goal in the second period, assisted by Francesco Santaniello. In the third period, Malik Ali scored another unassisted goal bringing Tech within three, but the Warriors weren't able to fight back, and left Michigan with a 6-3 loss. Goaltender Braedyn Funke played a total of 29 minutes and 30 seconds saving four shots in total. Goaltender Ty Barnhill came in for the rest of the game playing 30 minutes and 30 seconds, also saving four shots in total.
In game two, the Warriors came for redemption as they buried four goals in the second period. Colton Nikiforuk scored the two first goals of the game, assisted by Francesco Santaniello and Pavel Svoboda. Soon after, Mason Bazaluk found the back of the net, assisted by Avery Smith and Nikita Ivasenko. Avery Smith finding his second point of the game, scored halfway through the second period, assisted by Malik Ali and Aidan Dufort. Concordia didn't back down as they buried two goals in the second, one of which was a power play goal, and one early in the third making it 4-3 for the Warriors. The Warriors held on to the lead and won the game with a final score of 4-3. Goaltender Ty Barnhill played all 60 minutes saving 23 shots in total.
The Indiana Tech men's ice hockey team is back in action next weekend as they look for a sweep when they play #25 ranked University of Michigan Dearborn in a series that is surely set to decide the regular season WHAC champion. The Warriors will play in Dearborn, Michigan at 7pm on Friday night, and travel back to Fort Wayne for a game at home on Saturday at 5:30pm at the SportOne/Parkview Icehouse.
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