ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Dane Walters netted a goal with 57 seconds left and the fourth ranked Western Michigan Bronco Hockey team ended the nation's longest home win streak as WMU defeated the third ranked Wolverines 3-2 at Yost Ice Arena on Friday night.
Walters netted the fifth goal of his career against Michigan when a shot by
Dennis Brown got loose in the crease and the junior alternate captain punched it in while laying on his stomach near the crease. Brown tallied his second assist of the night on the game-winner and
Shane Berschbach also added a helper.
Nick Pisellini made a season-high 34 saves in the win and helped the Broncos kill off four penalties. Western Michigan also picked up goals from
Brett Beebe and
Ian Slater in their first win at Yost Arena since 2008. Michigan had won 19 straight games at Yost Arena.
The Broncos (6-0-3, 4-0-1-1 CCHA) took a 1-0 lead at 11:33 in the first period on Slater's second goal of the season. The senior captain punched in a rebound from the slot on a shot by
Trevor Elias. Elias tallied his first assist of the season on the goal and
Greg Squires added his third.
Beebe gave the Broncos a 2-0 lead at the 3:11 mark of the second period with his second career goal. Shortly after a Michigan power play ended
Chase Balisy broke up a pass and sent it out to Brown and sprung Beebe on a breakaway. Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick got a piece of Beebe's back-hander but it trickled through his legs and into the net. Brown earned his fourth assist and Balisy tallied his team-leading seventh.
Michigan scored two goals in just over three minutes to square the game away at 2-2. Kevin Clare netted his first career goal at 12:17 in the second period on a shot from the left point. Pisellini was on the ground after making a save and was not able to recover and Clare threw it into an open net. Just 3:12 later Mac Bennett put a goal between Pisellini's legs for his first of the season to tie the game.
Pisellini was awarded the Perani Cup First Star, while Walters was named the Second Star.
The two teams meet again on Saturday night at 7:35 p.m. with the game being broadcast by Comcast, with radio coverage provided by the Bronco Radio Network on 96.5 FM WKZO and at
www.wkzo.com/listen-live.