ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The 16th-ranked Western Michigan hockey team fell just short of upsetting No. 4 Michigan, falling 5-4 on Friday night at Yost Arena.
 
Dylan Wendt, Max Sasson, Chad Hillebrand and Jamie Rome all scored for the Broncos (5-3-0), with Jason Polin and Ryan McAllister each tallying two assists.
 
It was the Broncos striking first on their first shot on goal in the game at 4:16. Jack Perbix dished the puck off to Carter Berger and Berger found Wendt in the left circle. The sophomore fired it past Erik Portillo for his second goal of the season. Berger picked up his fourth assist of the season and Perbix tallied his fifth.
 
Michigan responded just over a minute later on a goal by Jackson Hallum. A shot by Seamus Casey was deflected to Hallum on the right side of the net and he put it in for his second goal of the season.
 
Michigan added two early goals in the first five minutes of the second period. Adam Fantilli scored on a breakaway, followed by T.J. Hughes scoring at 5:09 to push its lead to 3-1.
 
The Broncos responded with two straight goals to tie it up late in the period. Sasson finished from the slot for his fourth goal of the season after some slick passing by Polin and McAllister at 17:37. Hillebrand tied it up at 3-3 with 1:06 to play in the second period on his first goal of the season in his first game of the season. Hillebrand, who had missed the first seven games due to injury, punched in a rebound on a shot by Jacob Bauer. Bauer tallied his second assist of the season on the goal and Luke Grainger tallied his team-leading seventh.
 
The Wolverines responded again to take a 4-3 lead with a goal just 13 seconds later, with Mackie Samoskevich tallying on a back-hander from the left circle.
 
Rome tied it up at 4-4 at 5:46 on the power play. McAllister fired a shot from the left circle and the rebound kicked to the right for Rome to put in the net for his second goal of the season. McAllister's assist was his seventh, tying Grainger for the team lead. Polin picked up his second assist of the night and fourth of the season.
 
Nolan Moyle scored the game-winner at 10:58 in the third after being sprung by Hallum for a breakaway.
 
WMU outshot UM 35-33 on the night and finished 1-for-3 on the power play. The Broncos held the Wolverines scoreless on four power play chances, marking three straight games without allowing a power play goal.
 
The two teams meet again on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Lawson Ice Arena. Tickets are sold out but fans can watch the game live on NCHC.tv and listen via the Bronco Media Network.