OMAHA, Neb. – The Western Michigan hockey team picked up its first win of the 2020-21 season after a 2-1 victory over No. 13 St. Cloud State in the team's fifth game of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Pod at Baxter Arena on Wednesday evening.
 
Senior goalie Austin Cain made 20 saves, including nine in the third period, to pick up his first victory since the 2018-19 season. The Broncos (1-3-1, 1-3-1-0-0-0 NCHC) picked up goals from senior forwards Josh Passolt and Brett Van Os on the night. Sophomore forward Jason Polin had an assist and a career-high seven shots on goal as WMU outshot SCSU 32-21.
 
Western Michigan took the lead at 11:06 in the first period on Passolt's second goal of the season. Polin attempted a wraparound shot but the puck got deflected and ended up in the slot for Passolt to bang into the net. It was the fist the that the Broncos had scored first in a game this season, with Polin picking up his first assist of the season and freshman defenseman Aidan Fulp adding his third.
 
WMU killed off two SCSU power plays in the second period and took the 1-0 lead into the third when Van Os tallied the game-winner just 2:11 in. Van Os got a pass from Cole Gallant and drove the net, pushing the puck past Huskies goalie David Hrenak to push the lead to 2-1 on his second goal of the season. The assist was Gallant's first of the year.
 
Western Michigan was outshooting St. Cloud State 11-1 at one point in the third period but SCSU turned up the pressure and eventually scored with 19 second remaining on a goal by Nick Perbix off of a faceoff in the WMU zone.
 
The Broncos killed off the remaining 19 seconds to secure the victory. Both teams finished 0-for-3 on the power play.
 
Western Michigan is back in action against Colorado College on Friday night at 8:35 p.m. Coverage will be provided by NCHC.tv and on the Bronco Radio Network.