KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The 18th-ranked Western Michigan hockey team snapped its three-game losing streak after a 4-1 win over the University of Michigan in front of a sellout crowd of 3,985 at Lawson Ice Arena on Saturday night.
WMU (2-3-1) had been held to just two goals during the streak but exploded for four on the night with two coming from junior forward Paul Washe and one each from Drew Worrad and Kale Bennett. Freshman goalie Brandon Bussi rebounded from a rough outing on Friday night to make 25 saves on the night. The Broncos outshot the Wolverines 35-26 on the night, while finishing 2-for-4 on the power play.
Western Michigan jumped out to a very early 1-0 lead just 1:09 into the game. Luke Bafia had the puck at the right point and fired it toward the net. Worrad tipped the shot into the slot past U of M goalie Strauss Mann and into the net for his second goal of the season. The assist was Bafia's first of the year, while senior captain Hugh McGing picked up the first of two helpers on the night.
The Broncos pushed the lead to 2-0 at 3:01 in the period on the first goal of Bennett's career. Freshman forward Jason Pollin charged the net and ripped a back-hander on net. Mann made the save but the rebound kicked out to Bennett in the right circle and he punched it into the open net. The assist was the first of Polin's career, while Brett Van Os picked up his first helper of the season.
Michigan got one back at 1:26 in the second period on a power play goal by Will Lockwood.
WMU responded at 5:00 on Washe's first of the night. Washe won the faceoff back to Josh Passolt. Passolt dished the puck off to Michael Joyaux. The sophomore defenseman took the puck into the deep slot and fired a slap shot toward the net. Washe tipped the shot past Mann and into the net for his first goal of the season. Joyaux picked up his fourth assist of the season, while Passolt tallied his second.
Western Michigan held Michigan to just six shots on goal in the third period and capitalized in the final seconds on Washe's second of the night. WMU was on the power play after Worrad had been tripped trying to score on an empty net. Washe got a feed from McGing in front of the net. Washe's first attempt on goal was saved but he batted the rebound into the net for his first career multigoal game.
The Broncos head out on the road to Colorado Springs, Colo., to open Natoinal Collegiate Hockey Conference play next Friday and Saturday against Colorado College. Friday's puck drop is scheduled for 9:37 p.m., with Saturday's game starting at 8:07 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on NCHC.tv and on the Bronco Radio Network.
