MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team dropped game two of the weekend series against the Tommies, falling 3-1.

Andre Ghantous scored on the power play seconds after one of his goals were disallowed, tying the game at one-a-piece and bringing life to the Berry Events Center. The Tommies took a one goal lead into the locker room, scored a short handed goal in the third period to get to three, and survived the ensuing wave of offensive pressure from the 'Cats to earn a split on the weekend.

The Wildcats now fall to 8-12-2 overall and 6-8-0 in CCHA play. The Tommies improve to 12-11-1 overall and 10-6-0 in CCHA play.

Grant Potulny Post Game Press Conference

Cat Nips

• Andre Ghantous scored his seventh goal of the season and third on the power play, bringing his season point totals to 23 (7-16--23)
• Josh Zinger registered an assist, bringing his season assist totals to 13 (3-13--16)
• Kevin Marx Noren recorded his second point in three games with an assist and now has nine points on the year to lead all Wildcat freshmen (3-6--9)
• Beni Halasz made 21 stops on 24 shots, a .875 SV%
• The 'Cats went 1/5 on the PP and 3/3 on the PK, but allowed a short-handed goal against
• The 'Cats dominated the faceoff circle, winning 43 draws to UST's 25

How It Happened
1st Period
It took 17 minutes, but the first goal came from the stick of Lucas Wahlin who was left unattended to in the low slot and fired a one-timer over the glovehand of Halasz.

The Wildcats skated to the first intermission down a goal and a man, starting the second period down a man. In the first, the Tommies outshot the 'Cats 12-6 and posted seven blocks to NMU's five. The 'Cats successfully killed both of their penalties and went 0/1 on the PP. 

2nd Period
The 'Cats thought they tied the game on a Ghantous backhand, but the officials reviewed the goal and overturned the goal. It wasn't moments later that Ghantous found the loose change in the crease and found the back of the net, as this one on the man-advantage counted.

The Tommies took advantage of a Wildcat miscue in the neutral zone and screamed down on a short-handed breakaway. The forward made a move to the backhand and beat Halasz through the five-hole to regain the one-goal lead.

The 'Cats skated to the locker room down a goal going into the final 20 minutes, despite controlling play and outshooting the Tommies 13-4 with three power play attempts.

3rd Period
The Tommies extended their lead eight minutes into the period, as Ryan O'Neill corralled the puck below the left circle and fired a wicked wrister past the ear of Halasz to give the Tommies the first multi-goal lead of the evening.

Up Next
The 'Cats hit the road to take on the Minnesota State Mavericks on Friday, January 26 and Saturday, January 27.