KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Sophomore Colt Conrad netted two goals, while freshman Ben Blacker made 30 saves as No. 9 Western Michigan defeated Arizona State, 4-2, at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday night.
Conrad's linemates, Hugh McGing and Wade Allison, combined for five assists and sophomore defenseman Corey Schueneman netted the game-winning goal midway through the third period.
Deadlocked at 2-2 after a ASU power play goal at 7:28 in the third period, McGing sent the puck deep and Allison won a battle near the net to control the puck. The Philadelphia Flyers' draft pick then hit Schueneman, who was trailing on the play, and he fired it into the top-left corner of the net for his third goal of the season. The assist was Allison's third of the night and McGing's second.
Griffen Molino finished the game off with an empty-net goal at 19:47 after Aaron Hadley blocked a shot and dished it to Molino at center ice for the long goal.
The Broncos took an early lead on Conrad's first of the night at 8:06 in the first period. Allison found Conrad alone in the left circle and he put it under ASU goalie Joey Daccord's glove and into the net for his seventh of the season. McGing also tallied his first helper of the night on the goal.
The Sun Devils tied it up at 1-1 on a goal by Anthony Croston at 11:50 in the second period. The goal was set up by McGing's older brother, Liam, after he found Croston in the slot to beat Blacker.
Conrad's second of the night came with 2:01 left in the second period on the power play to give WMU a 2-1 lead. Fleming found Conrad at the bottom of the right circle and the sophomore forward go two whacks at the puck, with the second one getting past Daccord for his eighth of the season. Allison tallied his second assist on the goal and Fleming recorded his team-best 15th helper of the season.
Arizona State came fighting back in the third period and Wade Murphy tied it up before Schueneman's game-winner at 7:28 in the third period. Murphy was all alone in the left circle on the power play and Robbie Baillargeon found him for the one-timer into the net.
Overall the Broncos outshot the Sun Devils 39-32 on the night and converted one of three power play chances. ASU's power play was a perfect 1-for-1.
WMU wraps up the non-conference schedule for the season on Saturday night against Arizona State at 7 p.m.
