KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Liam Valente delivered the overtime game-winning goal on Saturday night at Lawson Arena, pushing Western Michigan to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Semifinals. WMU earned a 2-1 victory over Colorado College and moved to 26-9-1 overall. 

Owen Michaels was the other Bronco to light the lamp, while Hampton Slukynsky stopped 33 shots in net. WMU has now won three games in a row and will wait to learn its next opponent.  

FIRST PERIOD
The Tigers came out aggressive, getting some early looks on Slukynsky. However, he was up to the task and kept the game tied in the opening minutes. Under six minutes in, both teams were handed minor penalties, moving the game to 4-on-4. 

William Whitelaw made some nice moves in the offensive zone and nearly put the Brown and Gold on the board. Eventually, both teams would gain a skater. A little under nine minutes into the frame, CC was given another penalty. Despite being shorthanded, the Tigers would score to take a 1-0 lead. 

Following that, WMU would generate a few chances. In the end, Colorado College would get back to even strength. Down the stretch, Zack Sharp, Zach Bookman and Zach Nehring each had looks on net. But nothing would hit twine, and the Broncos trailed going to the second period. 

SECOND PERIOD
Slukynsky made a couple great saves to open the second period, helping WMU settle in. From there, Bobby Cowan and Grant Slukynsky had looks to even the score. CC netminder Jackson Unger was there to make both saves. 

Western Michigan kept pressuring in the back half of the period, as Iiro Hakkarainen and Sharp had shots turned away by Unger. A little later, Nehring rifled a shot off the post. Then, with about three minutes to play in the middle frame, Colorado College earned a power play. 

Whitelaw blocked the only shot for the Tigers, and the Broncos got the game back to 5-on-5. Slukynsky made a couple more saves in the closing seconds of the period, and CC took its one-goal lead to the third period. 

THIRD PERIOD
The pace picked up in the third frame, as both teams generated quality scoring chances. The first of the bunch came from Valente, as he nearly ripped a shot by Unger to tie the game. 

A little bit later, Whitelaw and Alex Calbeck had shots turned away. Slukynsky then made a flurry of saves and cleared a puck off the line in the middle portion of the period. Eventually, the Brown and Gold would be rewarded with the tying goal. Michaels found some open space in the slot and beat Unger to knot the game at 1-1 with a little over eight minutes left. 

Things got hectic down the stretch, with both teams looking for the game winner. With time winding down, Western Michigan generated a shot from Theo Wallberg. However, Unger was there to keep it out of the net. The game moved to sudden-death overtime. 

OVERTIME
Colorado College was assessed a major and a game misconduct for slewfooting early in the extra session. It didn't take long for the Brown and Gold to strike, as Slukynsky found Valente backdoor for a one-timer to end it. The goal pushed WMU to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Semifinal. 

UP NEXT
The Broncos will play in next Saturday's NCHC Frozen Faceoff Semifinal. The Brown and Gold will either host the game or travel to Denver. Stay tuned to WMUBroncos.com for more information.