MEQUON, WIS.—The Hamline University men's hockey team opened their 2023-24 season with a road bout at Concordia (Wis.) on Friday night. The Pipers out shot the Falcons 39-30 and had the upper hand in face-offs won 44-36, but a trio of first-period goals within a four-minute span doomed them in a 4-2 loss.

Hamline falls to 0-1, while Concordia (Wis.) improves to 1-0.

Concordia (Wis.) 4, Hamline 2

The Pipers' third shot on target of the season resulted in an unassisted tally courtesy of Scott Moyer at 7:12 of the first period, which gave his team a 1-0 lead.

Both teams finished the opening frame with 11 shots on goal, but it was the Falcons who converted three-consecutive shots within a four-minute span. Preston Hazelton got things started at 12:41, when he tied the game 1-1. Derek Humphreys gave Concordia the permanent 2-1 lead at 14:26, before his short-handed tally stretched the score to 3-1 at 16:22. 

Hamline out shot Concordia 28-19 over the final two periods, but would only get within one goal as Nikolai Dulak's first-career tally on the power play at 9:31 of the second frame narrowed the margin to 3-2. Zach Brydges closed the game's scoring with an empty netter in the game's final seconds, which iced a 4-2 victory for Concordia (Wis.).

Jordon Halverson and AJ Carls each picked up an assist for Hamline.

Maximillian Haselbacher registered 26 saves in net for the Pipers, while his counterpart Gabe Rosek notched 37 stops in a complete-game goaltending win for the Falcons.

The Pipers and Falcons will square-off again in Mequon, Wisconsin tomorrow, Saturday, October 28 at 7 p.m.