ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's ice hockey began the defense of its back-to-back Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League Playoff titles with a convincing win over Eastern Michigan University in the quarterfinals Thursday at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

Jared Dedenbach (JR/Warren, MI) and Tyler Groat (JR/Wyandotte, MI) each scored twice to lead the No. 8 Wolverines to an 8-1 win over the Eagles, the host school for the GLCHL Playoffs.

The win advances UM-Dearborn to the GLCHL Semifinals against No. 14 Davenport University at 7 pm Friday back at the Ice Cube. The Wolverines swept three regular season games against the Panthers this season.

Kevin Bechard (JR/Trenton, MI) got the scoring started 5:50 into the first period, while Dedenbach tallied his first of the night five minutes later to give the Wolverines an early 2-0 lead.

As they have done many times this season, UM-Dearborn controlled the middle frame, scoring four unanswered goals. Michael Hodgson (FR/Trenton, MI) and Justin Dunn (SO/Trenton, MI) found the net early in the second, while two goals from Groat put UM-Dearborn up 6-0. Andrew Palushaj (SR/Livonia, MI) and Dedenbach added goals in the third to close out the win.

Thomas Proudlock (JR/Southgate, MI) got the win in net for UM-Dearborn, stopping all 20 shots he faced in the first two periods. Adam Ranck (SO/West Bloomfield, MI) made 14 saves in the third period for the Wolverines.

UM-Dearborn moves to 22-4-2 overall this season.