EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State's Mitch Lewandowski netted the game-winning goal with 1:26 left in the third period as the Western Michigan hockey team fell on the road at MSU, 6-4, on Friday night.
Lewandowski scored off a faceoff to put the Spartans ahead 5-4 and then Sam Saliba added an empty-net goal to put the game out of reach.
WMU freshman forward Austin Rueschhoff had a career-high three points in the loss, scoring his first two collegiate goals and an assist. Wade Allison and Cam Lee each had two assists on the night.
The Broncos were down 2-0 in a hurry to open the game. Patrick Khodorenko gave the Spartans an early 1-0 lead just 33 seconds in after he was left alone in front of the net for a tap-in goal. Sam Saliba made it 2-0 at 1:17 after finishing off a feed from Logan Lampbdin during an odd-man rush.
After getting outshot 6-0 to open the game, Western Michigan responded on the power play to cut the lead to 2-1. MSU had a 3-on-1 short-handed rush but turned it over, creating 3-on-1 rush for the Broncos. Rueschhoff finished off a feed from Allison for his first goal at 7:02.
Cody Milan netted a power play goal after a scrum for the puck near the crease left him open on Blacker's stick side for another tap-in goal to push Michigan State's lead to 3-1 at 16:39 in the first period.
Western Michigan took it to the Spartans to open the second period. Muir netted a goal just 1:31 in after punching in a loose puck in the slot for his second goal of the season. Rueschhoff and Lee each picked up assists on the goal.
Just 15 seconds later Rueschhoff ripped one past MSU goalie John Lethemon for his second of the night. Lee found the big freshman forward in the right circle and he put it in the top-left corner of the net to tie it up at 3-3.
Just 16 seconds into the third period Colt Conrad netted his fourth goal of the season to give WMU its first and only lead of the night, 4-3. Allison broke up a pass and pushed the puck to Conrad, who ripped it past Lethemon from the slot for his 10th point on the season.
Michigan State outshot Western Michigan 34-30 on the night WMU's power play finished 1-for-3 but the penalty kill went just 3-for-5.
The two teams battle it out again on Saturday night with the Spartans making the trip to Lawson Ice Arena for the 7:05 p.m. puck drop. Tickets are available, starting at just $15, by calling 1-888-4-WMUTIX and online at WMUBroncos.com/tickets.
