CHELSEA, Mich.-- The No. 15 University of Michigan-Dearborn (2-3-0, 2-0-0) men's hockey team faced a two-goal deficit entering the third period on Saturday (Oct. 8). The Wolverines scored five unanswered goals to take a 5-1 lead over the Concordia (MI) Cardinals (2-2-0, 0-2-0). The Cardinals tried to claw back but came up short, with the Wolverines winning 5-4. 

The Wolverines pressured the Cardinals throughout the opening period outshooting their opponents 18-12. Despite creating numerous chances, the only goal came from the Cardinals with just 47 seconds left in the period. 

The Cardinals flipped the script in the second period putting the pressure on the Wolverines. That pressure allowed the Cardinals to scratch across their second goal of the game just four minutes into the period. Dearborn put 11 shots on frame, but Zachary Janis denied all of them. 

Down 2-0 and needing a spark, the Wolverines erupted. The Maize and Blue started the period with a man advantage, and the Wolverine Power play needed just one minute to score. Mikhail Khudenko received a Brendan West pass to help him ripple the twine for the Wolverines opening goal. Five minutes later, Khudenko took it upon himself to tie up the contest when he scored his second goal and his fourth in two days. 

The Wolverines would take the lead four minutes later when Dakota Potter potted his second goal of the season after nice assists from Quest Bigelow and Bailey Byrd. That lead would grow when Potter and Byrd linked up again, but Byrd beat Janis for his second goal in as many days this time. The fifth and final goal came less than a minute later when Joey Cullinan took the Vinny Sensoli pass and beat the Cardinal goaltender to take the 5-2 lead. CUAA would score two powerplay goals in the game's final minutes to make it close, but the Wolverines prevailed, winning the 5-4 barn burner. 

Up Next

The Wolverines travel to Grand Rapids on Friday (Oct.14) to begin the first game of a home-and-home series against Aquinas. The puck drops at 8 pm.