KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Three different Broncos scored and Ben Blacker needed to make just 15 saves as the Western Michigan hockey team snapped a three game winless streak after beating Michigan State, 3-1, in front of a sold out crowd of 3,817 at Lawson Ice Arena on Saturday night.
WMU was relentless on the night, holding the Spartans to 16 shots on goal, including just three in the first period. Hugh McGing, Josh Passolt and Colt Conrad each tallied, while Luke Bafia led the team with two assists on the night. WMU fired off 38 shots on the night, with Aidan Muir and Dawson DiPietro each ripping off a game-high five.
McGing potted his first goal of the season at 11:51 to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead Bafia took the puck from Blacker and passed it to center ice to find McGing. The sophomore forward weaved his way around two Spartans and into the slot, ripping his shot high glove-side and into the net.
After a scoreless second period MSU tied it up early in the third at 3:29. Michigan State was on the power play when Patrick Khodorenko fired one past Blacker from the right circle to tie the game up at 1-1. The goal was Khodorenko's second of the series and was assisted by Carson Gatt and Taro Hirose.
Less than two minutes later at 4:31 Passolt netted the game-winner. Bafia once again hit the long stretch pass and Passolt skated in on net, putting a back-hand shot between the legs of MSU goalie John Lethemon for his second goal of the season, giving WMU a 2-1 lead.
A late penalty was called on Western Michigan during a power play, cutting it short and evening the ice up for Michigan State with 1:43 to play. The Spartans pulled Lethemon to gain a five-on-four advantage but McGing won the opening draw and poked it over to Conrad. WMU's leading scorer fired it the length of the ice for his fifth goal and 11th point of the season to seal the victory.
Western Michigan is off next week and then kicks off National Collegiate Hockey Conference action hosting defending National Champions Denver on Nov. 4-5 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 1-888-4-WMUTIX and online at wmubroncos.com/tickets.
