MARQUETTE, Mich. - Trailing 3-0 at the start of the third period, the Northern Michigan Wildcats (6-1-2, 4-0-0-0 WCHA) rallied their way back to tie St. Cloud State Huskies (1-2-4, 0-0-0 NCHC), 3-3, Friday night at the Berry Events Center (3,020). 

The two teams skated to a stalemate through the first 20 minutes of action before St. Cloud found a way to net three in the second period. A slight delay to replace a pane of glass stalled the Huskies' momentum which the Wildcats carried into the final frame. 

With less than 10 minutes to play in regulation the Wildcats found themselves on a five-on-three power play following back-to-back five-minute major penalties by the Huskies. Northern Michigan took full advantage of the opportunity, scoring three goals within 3:02 to knot the game at 3-3. 

Northern Michigan and St. Cloud State skated the rest of the period tied with a five-minute overtime period looming. Neither team was able to fire any pucks on net in the extra period for a 3-3 final score in the record books. 

John Hawthorne made 21 saves in net Friday night while the Wildcats posted 25 shots on goal.

GOALS

• Vincent de Mey scored his eighth goal of the season, sparking the comeback early with the two-man advantage. His one-timer proved powerful again as his signature shot from the top of the circle found its way past Huskies' netminder Hrenak to put the Wildcats on the board with 11:32 elapsed in the third period. He was assisted by Ben Newhouse and Hank Sorensen.
• Andre Ghantous, with his third goal in as many games, drew the Wildcats within one just over two minutes after their first tally. The near impossible shot, Ghantous grabbed the puck from a bounce off the end wall and banked it in off the goaltender's skate blade for a 3-2 score with 6:52 remaining. Vincent de Mey and Hank Sorensen both picked up thier second points of the contest with assists on the goal.
• The game-tying goal came off Ghantous' stick for his first-career multi-goal game. Sorensen's slapshot bounced off the pads of Hrenak where Ghantous was able to corral the puck just outside the paint and slip it by the Huskies' last line of defense. De Mey was also credited with an assist on the play for his second of the night and third point.  

KEY STATS

• With an undefeated streak of eight games, the Wildcats hold the second longest streak in the nation with a 6-0-2 record in their last eight contests.

• Andre Ghantous posted his first-career multi-goal night and is now on a three-game goal-streak (4-0-4) and has tallied a point in each of his last five games (5-1-6).
• Vincent de Mey's tally to spark the comeback was his team-leading eighth of the season. He is now tied with fellow sophomore Griffin Loughran in both goals (eight) and points (12; 8-4-12). 
• With a power play tally Friday night, de Mey's five power play goals leads the nation and his 0.89 goals per game is tied for eighth overall with Loughran. 
• Scoring two goals with the man-advantage in the 3-3 tie, Andre Ghantous now boasts three on the season and ranks fifth in the country in power play tallies.
• With an overall record of 3-0-2, rookie netminder John Hawthorne ranks 11th in the country with a .800 win percentage. 
• Averaging 3.89 goals per game, the Wildcats currently rank eighth in scoring offense and 14th in scoring margin (0.89). The team also sits eighth in win percentage (6-1-2; .778) and 11th in the nation in power play goals with 12, operating at a .261 average.
• Northern Michigan outshot St. Cloud, 25-24, with Hawthorne posted 21 saves between the pipes.
• de Mey led the team in shots with five while Darien Craighead and Andre Ghantous registered four each. 
• Ben Newhouse, Garrett Klee and Hank Sorensen all posted a team-best two blocked shots in the game.

UP NEXT

The two teams look to break the tie tomorrow night with a strong nonconference game to be played. Puck drop for Saturday's game is set for 6:07 p.m. Tickets to the game are available here.