Weekend college recaps: Spartans, Lakers swept, while Broncos win both against NMU
A look around the college hockey scene in Michigan from the past weekend.
Ferris State takes Game 1, Michigan takes Game 2 in shootout
Friday night’s game featured goals from five different Bulldogs, and a big game from C.J. Motte. The Ferris State goaltender made 27 saves en route to a 5-0 shutout against the visiting Wolverines. Matt Robertson, Simon Denis, Eric Alexander, Dakota Klecha and Garrett Thompson all scored for the Bulldogs. Jared Rutledge was credited with the loss for Michigan, despite stopping 22 shots on the night.
Saturday, the Bulldogs erased a 3-1 deficit to force overtime. However, the visitors prevailed in the shootout, as the Wolverines managed to salvage an extra point in the second night. Lindsay Sparks, Boo Nieves and A.J. Treais scored regulation goals for UM, while Steve Racine stopped 36 shots. Kyle Bonis had two goals for the Bulldogs, Jason Binkley added the other, and Motte made 39 saves.
Ferris State now sits in fourth place in the CCHA, while Michigan is at No. 7.
Buckeyes sweep Spartans
The Buckeyes and goaltender Brady Hjelle held the Spartans to only one goal on the weekend, which meant a sweep for the visitors.
On Friday, Hjelle stopped 31 saves, and Ryan Dzingel scored with 2:13 left in regulation for the game’s lone goal and a 1-0 OSU win. Freshman goaltender Jake Hildebrand made 32 saves for the Spartans.
The same two goaltenders did battle Saturday night, with a similar result. Hildebrand stopped 21 shots, but received limited help from his offense. Chris Forfar opened the scoring for MSU, but two goals in the second, and an empty-netter in the third meant a 3-1 win for the Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes are now in a tie with Notre Dame for second place in the CCHA, while the Spartans are tied with Northern Michigan at No. 9.
Broncos sweep Wildcats
Dane Walters’ goal on a five-on-three power play for the Broncos proved to be the difference Friday night, as Western Michigan recorded 4-2 come-from-behind win at home against Northern Michigan. Frank Slubowski only had to stop 10 shots, while Chase Balisy scored twice, and Kenney Morrison added a goal for WMU. Jake Johnson and Ryan Daugherty had the goals for Northern Michigan, while Jared Coreau stopped 35 shots in the loss.
It only took one goal to decide a winner in Game 2, and that goal came from Western Michigan’s Trevor Elias. Slubowski stopped 23 shots, while Coreau stopped 37 for NMU, only to endure another loss.
Western Michigan is now No. 5 in the CCHA, while Northern Michigan is tied with MSU for No. 9.
Fighting Irish sweep Lakers
One game was close, the other wasn’t – but both went to the Fighting Irish.
In Friday’s contest, the Lakers fought back from a 2-0 deficit, only to lose to the Irish 3-2 in the series opener. Kellan Lain and Domenic Monardo scored the goals for LSSU, and Kevin Murdock stopped 32 shots. Steven Summerhays made 18 saves for ND in the win.
Saturday night was a different story, as the Irish scored early and often to cruise to a 6-1 win. Kelin Ainsworth scored the lone goal for the Lakers, while Murdock and Kevin Kapalka both saw time between the pipes for a grand total of 26 shots.
Notre Dame is now tied for No. 2 in the CCHA, while Lake Superior is at No. 8.
Michigan Tech loses to, ties Minnesota Duluth
Michigan Tech welcomed Minnesota Duluth to Houghton, only to fall 7-3 in the series opener Friday night. Tanner Kero, Blake Hietala and David Johnstone scored to pull the Huskies within one in the third period, but three goals from UMD late sealed up the win. Kevin Genoe and Phoenix Copley split time in goal for the Huskies.
On Saturday, the Huskies were able to rally once again, scoring two goals in the final six minutes to force a tie with the Bulldogs. Johnstone, Jujhar Khaira, Blake Pietila and Steven Seigo scored for MTU in the tie, while Genoe stopped 33 shots in goal.
Ironically, the two teams are tied for seventh place in the WCHA now, with both holding seven conference points.