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Adrian edges UM-Dearborn in GLCHL title game

Adrian edges UM-Dearborn in GLCHL title game

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The No. 8 University of Michigan-Dearborn men's ice hockey team erased a two-goal deficit in the second period before falling to No. 2 Adrian College in the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League Playoff Final Saturday at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor.

The 4-3 loss ended UM-Dearborn's two-year run as GLCHL Playoff Champions as the Wolverines drop to 23-5-2 overall. The game was the final for UM-Dearborn as a member of the GLCHL, as the program will move to the newly formed NAIA league in 2018-19. The loss also snaps a nine-game win streak for the Wolverines.

Adrian wasted little time getting on the board as Chris Donaldson scored the only goal of the first period just under three minutes in. The Wolverines escaped the opening frame down just one goal as they were outshot 22-7 in the opening frame.

After falling behind 2-0 in the second, the Wolverines quickly tied the game on goals from Troy Saunders (JR/Canton, Mich.) and Billy Brock (FR/Woodhaven, MI) 75 seconds apart.

After Adrian regained a 3-2 lead, Tyler Groat (JR/Wyandotte, MI) scored in the third period to tie the game at three, but the Bulldogs quickly answered with the game-winning goal just 38 seconds later.

Jared Dedenbach (JR/Warren, MI), Justin Dunn (SO/Trenton, MI) and Kevin Bechard (JR/Trenton, MI) each finished with an assist. Thomas Proudlock (JR/Southgate, MI) made 57 saves in a valiant effort in net for UM-Dearborn.

The Bulldogs outshot the Wolverines 61-21.

The Wolverines will shift their focus to the first-ever Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament. UM-Dearborn enters the event as the No. 1 seed and will face the winner of fourth seed Rochester College and fifth seed Lawrence Technological University at 6 pm Saturday in Fort Wayne, Ind.