KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan opened the NCHC Quarterfinals with a 6-2 victory over St. Cloud State on Friday night at Lawson Arena. The win was WMU's 27th of the season, which is the most in the NCAA. 

Matteo Costantini and Iiro Hakkarainen each had two goals, while Tim Washe and Alex Bump scored once. Hampton Slukynsky made 25 saves in net to earn his 12th win of the season. 

FIRST PERIOD
WMU took a penalty early in the game, getting sent off for boarding. However, Slukynsky made two saves and SCSU would commit a penalty of its own to make it 4-on-4. After the time expired on Western Michigan's penalty, the Brown and Gold went to the power play. 

On the man advantage, the Broncos used some nice passing to set up Costantini for his seventh goal of the season. A little bit after that, WMU was able to kill off another penalty, allowing the Huskies to get just one shot. 

The Broncos went back to the power play late in the period, and Costantini cashed in once more. This time, he tapped home a rebound to make the score 2-0 with under a minute to play in the period. SCSU would tally a goal with under 30 seconds to play in the frame, making it a one-goal game heading to the middle period. 

SECOND PERIOD
It didn't take long for the Broncos to answer that goal, as Hakkarainen deflected a shot out front to push the lead to 3-1 not even three minutes into the period. The goal was his 10th of the season. WMU didn't slow down from there, earning a power play just a few minutes later. 

Western Michigan would get three shots on the man advantage, but SCSU eventually returned to full strength. Later in the period, St. Cloud State was sent off again. This time for elbowing. The Broncos got four shots on that power play. SCSU killed off the penalty, but Washe buried a shot just seconds after the time expired. That moved the game to 4-1 in favor of the home team. 

Down the stretch, WMU kept its foot on the gas. Hakkarainen netted his second goal of the game, finding a loose puck out front and burying it top shelf. The Brown and Gold carried a four-goal lead into the final period.

THIRD PERIOD
The Broncos were sent off for holding about seven minutes into the final frame, and SCSU cashed in on the chance. That made the score 5-2 with just over 12 minutes to play in the game. 

However, Western Michigan was able to respond not too long after that, as an SCSU turnover found the stick of Bump and he backhanded a shot into the back of the net to restore the four-goal advantage. A few minutes later, Slukynsky made three great saves to keep the Broncos out in front.

Down the stretch, the Brown and Gold would get quality chances from Garrett Szydlowski and Cole Crusberg-Roseen. SCSU would keep them out of the net, and Western Michigan went on to close out a 6-2 victory. 

UP NEXT
The Broncos look to close out the NCHC Quarterfinal series tomorrow night. Puck drop for tomorrow's game is set for 6 PM.