DEARBORN, Mich. – The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's ice hockey team returned home to host Illinois State University in a nonconference matchup Friday at the UM-Dearborn Fieldhouse.
The Wolverines took control early, scoring first before the game was a minute old, on their way to a 6-2 victory against the Red Birds. The victory pushes UM-Dearborn to 5-1-0 on the season.
Dawson Richard scored his first goal in a Wolverine uniform just 58 seconds in, giving UM-Dearborn the early lead. Just over three minutes later, Kevin Bechard found the net, scoring his fifth goal of the season on an assist from Justin Dunn.
After Illinois State scored to cut the lead in half the Wolverines added two more before the intermission to hold a 4-1 lead after the opening frame. After a scoreless second, Zach Nichols scored twice to put the game out of reach for the Wolverines.
Leading the way offensively for the Wolverines was Nichols with two goals and one assist. Dunn and Bechard each added three points each, scoring once and adding two assists. Tyler Groat recorded the game-winning goal, his fifth of the season and 92nd of his career.
In goal, Proudlock backstopped the Wolverines to improve to 4-1-0, making 15 saves as UM-Dearborn outshot the Red Birds 50-17.
The teams close out the two-game series at 7 pm Saturday at the UM-Dearborn Fieldhouse.
