MILWAUKEE – The MSOE men's hockey team tied the University of Dubuque Spartans on Friday night, as the Raiders comeback came up just short with the Red and White dropping the shootout 1-0.

FINAL SCORE
University of Dubuque – 3

MSOE RAIDERS - 3

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Dubuque (4-11-1, 1-7-1 WIAC) jumped out in front of MSOE (7-7-2, 4-3-3 NCHA) just 1:35 into the game, as the Spartans took the 1-0 lead on an even strength goal.  The Spartans would add a second goal, this time on the powerplay, not even five minutes later, as Dubuque capitalized on the Raider cross-checking penalty to push their lead to 2-0.  At the midway point of the period, Nikolai Charchenko would find Eddie Shepler to give the Raiders signs of life, as the Red and White went to the first intermission trailing by a goal.
• After over eighteen minutes of scoreless play in the second period, it was the Spartans that would break through, tallying another even strength goal with just under 90 seconds to play in the second period.  With the Red and White outshooting their opponent but still trailing on the scoreboard the Raiders would ratchet up the offensive intensity in the final period of regulation.  Shepler would bring the Raiders within a goal after a feed from Seth Bernard gave the sophomore forward his second goal of the evening. 
• With less than ten minutes left in regulation, Casey Roepke would come through in the clutch for MSOE, as the Milwaukee native tallied a short-handed, game-tying goal as the junior defensemen worked in at left wing for the first time in his career.  The Raiders and Spartans would need overtime to decide a victor, with both teams having opportunities to end the game, but neither able to follow through across the five extra minutes of play.  Ultimately, the Spartans would convert their first shootout attempt and that would prove to be the difference maker, as the teams settled for a tie in the standings after 65 minutes of action-packed hockey.

MSOE STAT TRACKER
Shots – Rylan Jockims (4)
Goals – Eddie Shepler (2)
Assists – Seth Bernard & Nikolai Charchenko (1)
Saves – Austin Schwab (19)

WHO'S ON DECK
The Raiders close out their weekend series with the Spartans tomorrow, in Dubuque, Iowa.  The game is scheduled for a 7:00 P.M. start.

For up-to-the-minute MSOE Raiders news, visit us at www.MSOERaiders.com. You can also follow the Red & White on Twitter @MSOE_Raiders and @msoe_raiders on Instagram.