KALAMAZOO, Mich-- Western Michigan University's hockey team rallied back twice from deficits before coming away with a 4-3 victory over in-state rival No. 12 Michigan State in front of 2,458 fans at Lawson Arena Friday night to hand head coach Jeff Blashill his first career CCHA win.
The Broncos (5-2-2, 1-1-1-0 CCHA) rallied back from an early 2-0 hole to tie the score, and overcame a 3-2 deficit by netting the final two goals for the victory. Matt Tennyson led the scoring effort for the Brown & Gold with two goals, including the game-winner in the third period. Greg Squires and Max Campbell added goals for WMU, while Chase Balisy added two assists to help earn the Broncos their first win in CCHA play this season.
Tennyson's game-winner was scored on the power play 7:00 into the third period to give the Broncos their only lead of the night. Balisy fed the puck down low to Shane Berschbach, who slid a tape-to-tape pass across the slot to Tennyson, who had snuck in back door for the goal. It was Tennyson's fourth goal of the season and the only power-play tally of the night for the Broncos, who were 1-2 on the man advantage. The Broncos also outshot the Spartans for the night, 30-25.
Nick Pisellini added 22 saves in net for the Broncos to improve his record to 5-1-2 on the season.
The Spartans got a two goal effort from junior Brett Perlini, while Mike Merrifield added the other tally. Goaltender Drew Palmisano turned away 26 Bronco shots on goal.
With the way the gamet started, it looked like it was going to be the Spartans night. MSU drew first blood just 3:44 in the first period on a four-on-four. Derek Grant skated the puck into the left corner of the Bronco zone and found Perlini on a centering pass. Pisellini was able to stop the initial one-timer, but Perlini knocked in the rebound for his first goal of the night and a 1-0 lead. Jake Chelios was also credited with an assist on the play.
Perlini struck again for his sixth goal of the season to give MSU at 2-0 advantage on a breakaway at 15:01 of the period. On a breakout from the Spartan zone, Matt Grassi made a long feed ahead to Perlini, who snuck in behind the Bronco defense, skated in all alone and beat Pisellini five-hole for his second goal of the night.
The Broncos fought back in the second period, with scoring two goals in the first 4:52 of the stanza. Tennyson scored his first goal of the night at the 3:21 mark. After Dane Walters whiffed on a shot attempt, Balisy chased the puck down and fired a rink-wide pass to Tennyson who ripped a wrist shot past Palmisano to cut the Spartan lead in half.
WMU kept the momentum rolling, tying up the score just a minute and a half later. Squires made a great defensive play to strip a Spartan skater from behind. Max Campbell picked up the loose puck and dished off the Trevor Elias, who found Squires on the right wing for a wrist shot that beat Palmisano over the right shoulder to tie the game at two. The goal was the third of the season for Squires.
MSU struck back when Merrifield intercepted a WMU pass at the blue line and fired a quick shot just under the crossbar to give the Spartans the lead back at 3-2.
The Broncos tied it up late in the second on a goal from Campbell, who fired a shot off a Spartan defender from the left boards at the 17:04 mark. Luke Witkowski and Squires were credited with helpers on the goal, which was Campbell's fourth of the season.
WMU looks to carry over its momentum into the second game of the series with the Spartans tomorrow night, with the Blackout Saturday face-off set for 7:35 p.m. at Lawson Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear black to support the Broncos.
