COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Western Michigan battled back from a 3-0 deficit to take a 4-3 lead before settling for a 4-4 tie and a shootout win to earn two points over Colorado College at World Arena on Friday night.
Nolan LaPorte, Will Kessel, Shane Berschbach and Thomas Nitsche all tallied goals for WMU. Chase Balisy had a game-high two assists and Kessel also added an assist for his first two-point game of the season Lukas Hafner made 18 saves after relieving starter Frank Slubowski. Justin Kovacs made the lone tally in the shootout and Hafner made two saves with a third shot hitting the post for the extra point.
The Broncos scored four straight goals after spotting the Tigers the lead. The comeback started when Nolan LaPorte tipped in a shot by Kenney Morrison to cut the lead to 3-1 at 17:11 in the second period. Morrison's rocket was initially stopped by Josh Thorimbert but the puck popped over his glove and LaPorte punched it into the net for his ninth goal of the season. Balisy notched his first assist on the night and 18th on the season on the goal.
Just 2:14 later at 19:25 Will Kessel netted his fourth of the season after banging home a rebound on a shot by David Killip. The goal was his fourth of the season, with Killip tallying his second assist and Sheldon Dries also notching a helper as the lead was cut to 3-2.
Just 1:15 into the third period the Broncos tied it up 3-3 on Berschbach's team-leading 13th goal of the season. Kessel chipped the puck across the blue line to Sam Mellor and the sophomore forward found Berschbach in the slot. Berschbach skated in on Thorimbert and put it between his legs to light the lamp.
Nitsche's goal at 5:46 gave Western Michigan its first lead of the game. Hargrove took the puck out of the corner to Chase Balisy and the senior captain skated to the top of the right circle and found Nitsche open at the top of the left circle. The freshman defenseman buried the wrist shot for his first collegiate goal, giving WMU a 4-3 lead.
Less than two minutes later CC tied the game up at 4-4 with Alex Roos tallying his seventh goal of the season. A turnover in the Bronco zone led Alexander Krushelnyski finding Peter Stoykewich alone by the net. Roos came charging in and punched it past Hafner for the game's final goal.
Cody Bradley and Jordan DiGiando each tallied in the first period to give CC a 2-0 lead heading into the second period.
Archie Skalbeck gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead at 13:34 in the second period.
Western Michigan and Colorado College play for the final time of the regular season on Saturday at 9 p.m.
