ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The 10th-seeded Northern Michigan University hockey team had its 2012-13 season come to an end on Saturday (March 9) night with a 6-2 loss to the seventh-seeded University of Michigan in the first round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs. The Wildcats finished with an overall record of 15-19-4.

Wildcat goals came off the sticks of freshman forward Darren Nowick and senior defenseman Kyle Follmer and junior goaltender Jared Coreau stopped 44 Wolverine shots.

Michigan (15-18-3) jumped on the 'Cats early scoring 4:02 into the game. Alex Gutill and Jacob Trouba (15:05) scored in the first period for the 2-0 UM lead.

Nowick scored his seventh of the season and second of the series with 30 seconds left in the first. He picked up a loose puck and scored on a rebound off his initial shot.

In the second period, Mac Bennett gave the home team a 3-1 lead with a power play goal at 6:06. Andrew Copp scored another power play goal with 2:35 left in the second.

Luke Moffatt and Copp scored in the third. Copp's was on a penalty shot.

Follmer scored with 1:06 left in the game. Freshman forward Justin Rose fed the puck across the ice to Follmer for the only assist.

Coreau had 21 saves in the first period. It was the third time this season he had 40 saves. Coreau also stopped a penalty shot by AJ Treais.

Steve Racine finished with 18 saves for the Wolverines. He is unbeaten in the last six games.

NMU was 0-for-3 on the power play and UM was 2-for-3.

Saturday marked the end of careers for Kyle Follmer, Kory Kaunisto, Scott Macaulay, Brian Nugent and Matt Thurber. All but Thurber played in the game.

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