KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Led by Sam Colangelo's second hat trick of the season, the Western Michigan hockey team was able to defeat Denver, 7-3, on Friday night inside Lawson Arena. The win pushed WMU's win streak to seven in a row. 

Outside of Colangelo's three tallies, the Broncos got goals from Alex Bump, Zak Galambos, Hugh Larkin and Dylan Wendt. Six players had multi-point nights. 

FIRST PERIOD
Not even a minute into the game, WMU was called for a tripping penalty, putting Denver on the power play. The Pioneers netted the game's first goal on the man advantage and took a 1-0 lead early in the game. 

However, following the DU goal, the Broncos started to apply more pressure, getting good looks on net from Joe Cassetti and Ethan Phillips in the middle portion of the first frame. With under four minutes to play in the opening period, Denver was assessed a minor penalty for tripping. 

After shots from Phillips and Tim Washe were saved, Colangelo was able to tie the game at 1-1 with about 1:30 to play in the first 20 minutes. Not even 20 seconds later, Wendt threw a beautiful pass in front of the net that was tipped by Bump, giving WMU a 2-1 lead heading into the second period. 

SECOND PERIOD
The two squads played evenly throughout the early portion of the second 20 minutes, with Owen Michaels and Chad Hillebrand getting good looks on net. As the game moved past the middle portion of the second period, Denver tied the game at 2-2. 

However, late in the period, Denver was assessed a minor penalty for tripping, and Western Michigan made the Pioneers pay right away. After a faceoff win from Grainger went back to Samuel Sjolund, he swung the puck around to Galambos who buried a shot into the back of the net for a 3-2 WMU lead with 21 seconds left in the period. 

THIRD PERIOD
Denver would again respond to the Broncos' goal, getting the tying tally just over seven minutes into the final period. However, from there, the flood gates opened for the Broncos, and the game swung in their favor. 

About two minutes after the tying goal, Larkin was able to sneak a puck into the back of the net in front of crowded goal. That gave the Broncos a 4-3 lead, and they would never relinquish that advantage. 

Down the stretch of the period, Denver was given another penalty. This time for slashing. Sjolund and Wendt would find looks early in the man advantage, but Colangelo would make it a 5-3 game with under four minutes remaining. That capped off a perfect three-for-three night on the power play for WMU. 

Now trailing by two, Denver pulled its goalie to try and get back in the game. It would not work, as Western Michigan netted two more goals to secure a 7-3 victory. Wendt put the Broncos in front 6-3, and Colangelo secured his hat trick with the game's final goal. 

UP NEXT
The Broncos and Pioneers will finish their series tomorrow night at Lawson Arena. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m.