SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- In a fitting end to a hard fought game featuring two top 15 teams in the country, the 12th ranked Western Michigan hockey team tied No. 11 Union, 2-2, in front of 1,318 fans at Messa Rink on Friday night.
Greg Squires netted two goals in a game for the first time in his career to tie the game twice for the Broncos and
Nick Pisellini made a season-high 30 saves in the draw.
The Broncos (2-0-1) outshot the Dutchmen 34-32 on the night and held Union scoreless on four power plays. Both teams blocked 19 shots each on the night.
Union took the early 1-0 lead at 2:03 in the first period on an unassisted goal by Sam Coatta. Coatta picked up a loose puck and fired a shot wide of Pisellini but it bounced off the boards and back into Pisellin's leg and into the net.
WMU answered with 2:06 left in the first period on Squires' first goal of the season.
Dennis Brown created a turnover and
Jordan Oesterle pushed the puck to Squires and he streaked down the ice. The New York native went top shelf on Union goalie Troy Grosenick to tie the game 1-1. The assist was the second of the season for Brown and the first of Oesterle's collegiate career.
The Dutchmen pushed ahead 2-1 at the 2:57 mark in the first after Mat Bodie netted his first goal of the season. The defenseman fired it from the center of the blue line and the well-screened shot went over Pisellini's shoulder and into the net.
A broken play and a foot race resulted in Squires' second goal of the night. After a save by Pisellini the puck got by a defenseman and Squires beat him to the puck and raced down the ice. The senior forward corralled the puck and put it between Grosenick's legs and off the far post and into the net. The unassisted goal came at 12:47 in the third period.
Neither team could capitalize in the remainder of regulation or the overtime period. Union had a power play during the extra stanza but the Broncos were able to keep them off the scoreboard and secure the tie.
The two teams battle it out again on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
