MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Wildcat hockey team clinched an important two points over the Falcons of Bowling Green State University, with Mikey Colella's shootout winner in the 3-3 tie.
The first period started out with lots of back-and-forth action as the Northern Michigan University program skated even with the opposition in nearly every category.
With goose eggs on the board after one, the Wildcats led in shots on goal by a narrow 7-5 margin.
Sophomore forward Mack Byers opened the scoring Saturday night with a goal in the second period to give NMU the 1-0 lead at 3:20 of the frame. The tally extended his already career-long goal and point streaks to three games.
Shortly after Byers made it 1-0, NMU, the Falcons sent a flurry of shots on net which Charlie Glockner stood on his head to stop.
After a series of consecutive shots, BGSU's Sam Craggs tied the game at 1-1. They then claimed the lead less than a minute later when the puck took a weird bounce off a lifted backhand shot and crept through the pads and glove of Glockner.
Following the two quick goals by the Falcons, NMU made a change between the pipes as Rico DiMatteo entered the game.
AJ Vanderbeck tied things back up at 16:53 with a shot inside the slot to make it a 2-2 game.
The two teams skated to the second intermission tied at 2-2, with the Wildcats outshooting the Falcons, 23-19.
Andre Ghantous broke the stalemate at 12:26 of the third to make it 3-2 NMU off a feed from Joseph Nardi found him in front of the net.
BGSU's TJ Lloyd scored the equalizer minutes later when a shot beat DiMatteo in front for the eventual 3-3 final score.
With the score still tied at the end of regulation, the two teams prepared for the extra session looking for the golden goal.
The Wildcats managed just one shot on goal while Rico DiMatteo batted aside all five shots faced in the overtime period, including a two-on-goalie chance for the Falcons as NMU sought to kill a penalty late.
At the end of the overtime frame the score remain tied and a shootout ensued.
It took four rounds to determine a victor as AJ Vanderbeck and Mikey Colella both beat the BGSU netminder and DiMatteo saved three shots to earn his team the extra point in league play.
GOALS
- Mack Byers opened the scoring for NMU with a shot through the five-hole at 3:20 of the second period. The sophomore skated the puck through the offensive zone before ripping a shot off from the near face-off dot for the 1-0 lead. Bo Hanson tallied an assist on the goal.
- Skating along the boards, Hank Crone sent a pass across ice to AJ Vanderbeck who stood along in the slot. The team's leading scorer fired a wrist shot into the back of the net for the 2-2 score. Trevor Cosgrove also picked up an assist on the Vanderbeck goal.
- On the rush, Andre Ghantous carried the puck over the blue line and passed it up ice to Joseph Nardi out front. The senior captain then sent a blind pass back to Ghantous who lifted the puck over the blocker of BGSU's netminder to make it 3-2.
KEY STATS
- The Wildcats held a slim edge in shots, sending 34 pucks on net over 65 minutes of action, to the Falcons' 31.
- Ben Newhouse blocked a team-high four shots on the night as the team combined for 13 total blocked shots en route to the 3-3 tie.
- With two assists in the contest, Trevor Cosgrove led the team in points with two. Six other Wildcats highlighted the box score Saturday night.
- Both teams were perfect on the penalty kill, stifling all chances as each squad managed three successful kills.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats continue their homestead when they host the University of Minnesota-Duluth next weekend, Dec. 3-4.
Friday night will be "Rock your socks" night at the Berry Events Center. Fans are encouraged to bring new socks to toss on the ice at the first intermission to be donated to a local charity.
On Saturday night, the NMU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and The Mining Journal partner for the annual Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are asked to bring new stuffed toys to the game to donate to a local charity. The toss will take place during the first intermission on Dec. 4.
